LUTHMANN NAME GOES LEGENDARY
He’s Not Adolf Hitler—But That Doesn’t Stop His Enemies From Treating Him Like Public Enemy Number One For Telling the TRUTH
NOTE: This piece was first published on NYNewsPress.com.
By M. Thomas Nast and Frankie Pressman with Richard Luthmann
What’s in a Name?
The name Luthmann goes back centuries. It means something—literally. The name traces its roots to both Scandinavian and North Germanic origins.
In Sweden, it emerged as an ornamental surname in the 17th century, combining the Old Swedish nickname Lut, meaning “the crooked one” with the suffix -man (“man”). This likely referred to someone with a bent or crooked physical feature, or figuratively to a person of crooked (dishonest or cunning) character.
In northern Germany, by contrast, Luthmann developed as a habitational name – an Americanized form of Luthmann for someone from a place called Luthe (found in regions from Westphalia to Lower Saxony). Another interpretation ties the name to an old Germanic personal name “Ludmann,” composed of lut meaning “people” (cf. Old High German liut) and -mann meaning “man,” essentially denoting a “leader of the people” or head man.
The Luthmann name has long been interpreted as “The Trickster Who Takes Heads.” That translation always seemed poetic, a folkloric legacy passed down through generations of artisans, scholars, and community leaders.
The layered meaning of Luthmann – blending notions of guile and leadership – has been reflected in the personas of some of its notable bearers. The “crooked one” or trickster aspect suggests a person who is sly, unconventional, or defies norms, whereas the “head man” aspect implies prominence and authority.
The name’s prevalence in northern Europe (Germany, Denmark, etc.) and its meaning “headman” indicate that some Luthmann families may have held positions of respect or notoriety in their communities.
For example, Johann Adam Luthmann, an 18th-century German painter from the Harz region, gained renown for his landscape and architectural works, and Johannes Luthmann, a 19th-century Prussian baron, served with distinction in the Napoleonic Wars – both individuals embodying leadership or prominence.
At the same time, the mischievous undertone of Lut “the crooked one” suggests that bearers of the name might also have been known for wit, trickery, or non-conformity in social affairs.
In modern times, the trickster-leader duality of the name Luthmann has taken on a kind of legend in media portrayals. Individuals with this surname who enter public life can find the meaning of their name remarked upon or metaphorically linked to their behavior. Contemporary examples include Malte Luthmann, a German professional ice hockey defenceman, and Niklas Luthmann, a German former footballer. Other Luthmanns have appeared in academia and sports.
But the name Luthmann has become sharper in modern times, mostly thanks to one man: Richard Luthmann.
To his critics, he’s a menace—a dirty trickster turned criminal mastermind. He’s something else to his supporters: a brilliant, misunderstood disruptor who used the system’s tools to expose its rot. And he paid the price.
This is the story of how one man gave new meaning to an old name—and why that name now divides almost everyone who hears it.
Luthmann Name Goes Legendary: Trial by Combat—and Total Disruption
Richard Luthmann burst onto the public stage in 2015 when he filed a motion demanding trial by combat in a civil fraud case.
It was bold. It was absurd. It was brilliant.
“They want to be absurd,” he told reporters. “I’ll give them back ridiculousness in kind.”
The media dubbed him the “Game of Thrones Lawyer,” but those who followed his career closely saw something more profound.
He wasn’t just mocking the courts but holding up a mirror. He showed the public how ridiculous and broken the system had become.
Luthmann leaned into his image as a provocateur. He wore bow ties and double-breasted suits like armor.
He called himself a “Trumpian,” less because he was a MAGA ideologue, but more because he refused to play by rules that protect the establishment at the expense of the people.
“My political Bible was written by Roger Stone,” he said. “I am a man-eater.”
To many Staten Islanders, he became a folk villain—mocked by elites, feared by insiders, and secretly admired by those tired of corruption.
Luthmann Name Goes Legendary: The Scandal That Made the Myth
From 2015 to 2017, prosecutors say Luthmann violated the law in a case the press dubbed one of the biggest election scandals in New York history.
He created fake Facebook pages mocking and attacking local candidates.
One page showed a councilwoman backing a heroin clinic. Another falsely endorsed a homeless shelter plan to anger voters.
But these weren’t random pranks—they were targeted strikes, crafted by a political strategist who knew how the game was played.
In one leaked message to then-Assemblyman Ronald Castorina Jr., Luthmann wrote, “Time for a fake [opponent] page… Is there a picture of her with Hillary?”
The media ran with it. A New York Magazine exposé declared him the Roger Stone of Staten Island.
He eventually pleaded guilty—not because he believed he was wrong, but because, as he has said many times, he was targeted for political reasons.
“You can’t fight these corrupt f-ckers in their rigged system,” Luthmann said. “These aren’t the days of Judge Crater, as much as that would instantly clean things up.”
Luthmann had embarrassed the wrong people. He had exposed how easy it was to manipulate voters, and instead of fixing the system, the system came for him.
Luthmann Name Goes Legendary: Crime or Lawfare?
Then came the federal charges.
In 2017, prosecutors indicted Luthmann on claims that he ran a scrap metal scam from a Staten Island strip mall. They alleged he shipped garbage instead of goods and threatened anyone who complained. One man was supposedly held at gunpoint.
It made headlines. But dig deeper, and questions emerge.
Prosecutors painted Luthmann as a “vicious and dangerous” lawyer who blurred the lines between legal advocate and mob boss. They accused him—without formal charges—of plotting to murder a Democratic official. It was sensational. But it was never proven.
The so-called “victims” of Luthmann’s mayhem? A five-time felon “star witness” with a NYC FBI Office “Get Out of Jail Free Card,” and shell companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party.
Luthmann has never wavered in his response: it was all lawfare, orchestrated by a political machine hell-bent on destroying him. He still blames Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, and Staten Island’s DA, Michael McMahon.
In 2019, Luthmann took a plea deal for wire fraud and extortion conspiracy. Judge Jack Weinstein sentenced him to four years in federal prison.
Represented by Arthur Aidala, Luthmann served his time.
“Artie said they wanted to put me away for LIFE. I still don’t know what the f-ck I did. I think President Trump should give me the Medal of Honor for making life difficult for the Commies,” Luthmann said.
But he wasn’t done.
The Comeback—This Time as a Journalist
When Richard Luthmann got out of prison, he didn’t hide. He launched a new career as an investigative journalist.
His Substack, “This is For Real”, quickly attracted readers with its raw reporting and take-no-prisoners tone. He’s #59 in the RISING NEWS category.
He began co-hosting The Unknown Podcast with journalist Michael Volpe, digging into family court corruption, cancel culture, and political censorship.
He now writes for outlets like NYNewsPress.com, FLGulfNews.com, and TheFamilyCourtCircus.com. He’s written features on The Gateway Pundit and The Frank Report, and celebrates the New American Golden Age.
His work often centers on exposing judges, bureaucrats, attorneys, public figures, and political operatives who abuse their power.
His reporting is fearless. He names names, publishes court documents, challenges narratives, and makes enemies.
But most importantly, he keeps receipts.
Critics claim he’s still running the same tricks under a different banner.
His supporters argue that he’s simply doing what real journalists used to do: TELL THE TRUTH, no matter who it hurts.
Luthmann Name Goes Legendary: Not Adolf Hitler, But…
Recently, someone joked that meeting a man named Louis Hitler made them think of Richard Luthmann.
“Obviously, Luthmann isn’t Adolf Hitler,” they said. “But you wouldn’t know that from how his enemies talk about him.”
It’s not an outrageous comparison in tone—just in substance.
Luthmann’s detractors speak about him as if he’s a villainous mad-genius, a cross between Lex Luthor and Rasputin.
But that reputation, ironically, is what makes him effective. The name Luthmann now evokes a reaction.
It makes people nervous. It makes them listen.
That’s not a flaw. That’s power.
Consider that on the eve of New York City’s Primary Elections, the discussion in some political circles isn’t about policy or even candidates. It’s about LUTHMANN.
He hasn’t lived on Staten Island since 2017. But to hear some Democratic Party insiders tell it, you’d think he never left. From backroom chatter to public Facebook brawls, Luthmann’s name continues to dominate local political gossip, especially among operatives who once feared—or worked with—him.
One of the loudest voices? Paul Casali, a minor Democratic figure and failed operative, has repeatedly gone on tirades accusing Luthmann of being “mentally ill,” “dangerous,” and “a convicted felon who went to prison for fraud and extortion.”
Ironically, Casali was dismissed from political employment. Colleagues cited his ” theft of campaign funds” as the reason.
Luthmann revealed these claims in a published series of articles about bias, threats, and political corruption in NYC Council Member Kamillah Hanks‘ office.
Casali went rabid.
In one Facebook exchange, Casali posted: “Rich is not only mentally ill, he’s dangerous. I have a harassment complaint against him and will be filing charges.” In another, he wrote, “He needs to be on medication.”
Casali even went so far as to publicly condemn Democratic Party leadership for allegedly “plotting” with Luthmann.
“This is why we need new leadership,” Casali said. “Associating with felons is 8th on the list.”
But while Casali and others call Luthmann “crazy,” not one of them has actually disputed what Luthmann said—about Casali, Kamillah Hanks, or Chief of Staff Marci Bishop.
Not a single denial of racism, religious bigotry, or abuse. Just name-calling.
Luthmann, for his part, shrugs off the attacks.
“They hate me because I’m exposing their corruption, and doing it with FLAIR … WOOO!” Luthmann said via Substack. “If I’m crazy, then I’m crazy like a fox. I’m not sorry for what I expose. They know everything I say is true, and I’ve only just begun.”
Luthmann says that the claims of mental illness are nothing but “projection.”
“Kevin and Kamillah are two of the worst narcissists and sociopaths anyone can come across. I should know, we’re in a lawsuit because they are DEADBEATS,” he said. “That will be their downfall. They’ll be much better people after they serve their prison terms. Much more humble. It worked for me.”
Luthmann also says he hasn’t spoken to Laura Sword in a decade.
“She stopped talking to me the day President Trump came down the Golden Escalator. I think she even called me a ‘monarchist,’” he said. “As a journalist. I’ve reached out for comments and even sent her a congratulatory note when she was elected SI Dems Party Chair. She never responded, and I don’t deal with cut-outs. That’s not how I operate,” Luthmann said.
Luthmann has gone further, with his reports branding NYC Council Member Kamillah Hanks and her Chief of Staff Marci Bishop as “race-baiting opportunists” and “black women using minority pain to hold power.”
He has reported on Casali as a “crook” and “a bagman” for a failed political machine riddled with internal abuse and loyalty tests.
And his critics? All they can do is call him names.
“Nobody says I’m lying,” Luthmann quipped. “They just say I’m ‘dangerous’ for telling the truth. Newsflash – the truth is dangerous when you’re a liar and a crook.”
Whether you think he’s a villain or a crusader, one thing is clear: Richard Luthmann still lives rent-free in the minds of Staten Island’s political class.
For someone who hasn’t walked the Staten Island Ferry in over seven years, that’s a powerful legacy.
With all the bluster and personal attacks, there is one thing Luthmann’s detractors don’t say: that what he says isn’t TRUE.
And that means everything.
Luthmann Name Goes Legendary: The Surname as Legacy
Before Richard Luthmann, the Luthmann name was linked to painters, professors, and business leaders. Now it means something else.
It means resistance. It means trickery. It means unorthodox leadership.
It means someone who won’t shut up when they’re told to.
And maybe that’s fitting. After all, it was always “The Trickster Who Takes Heads.” Perhaps it just took one man to bring that meaning to life.
For supporters, Richard Luthmann is not just a person. He is a signal.
The signal that the establishment can be mocked. That systems can be broken. That names can be reborn.
Whether you see him as a hero or a menace, one thing’s certain: the name Luthmann now means something again.
And that, in itself, is a victory.
I am just naturally suspicious of any character so hell-bent on achieving recognition. Does he believe only he tells the truth? Is there some reason I should care?