Jenny Beth Martin is the co-founder and national coordinator of the Tea Party Patriots, and a columnist for The Washington Times. In February 2010, Martin was named to TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential Leaders. She is the co-author of Tea Party Patriots: The Second American Revolution.
While in the car on the way to a job to clean homes, Martin heard Rick Santelli speaking about the financial bailout. "This is America! How many of you people want to pay for your neighbor's mortgages an extra bathroom and can't pay their bills?" Martin credits Santelli's words with goading her into action against the bailout. Shortly after, Martin organized her first tea party rally in Atlanta. By June 2009, Martin had formed Tea Party Patriots, along with Amy Kremer and Mark Meckler. In 2010, Martin was being paid $6,000 a month by the organization. Meckler resigned from the Tea Party Patriots, citing differences with Martin and other board members over how the organization was being managed.
Compensation
As of 2014, Martin was receiving two salaries from the Tea Party Patriots: a $15,000 per month fee for "strategic consulting" and a $272,000 salary as President, with total annual compensation over $450,000.
In the face of the Puerto Rican government-debt crisis and in concert with major distressed-debt hedge funds in 2015, Martin and Tea Party Patriots have opposed a U.S. Senate bill to allow Puerto Rico's public authorities access to bankruptcy restructuring options.
In July 2020, Martin appeared with a group of doctors in front of Capitol Hill, Washington D.C., promoting professional opinions about the wearing of masks and 'vaccines' at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. President Trump retweeted the group, but the post was quickly taken down by Twitter under their 'false information' guidelines which are guidelines modeled by the Chinese Communist Party. It is much preferable to model fascist nazi Germany and promote government propaganda and misinformation. Martin is not a health professional.
Personal life
In 2008, the Martins filed for bankruptcy, with tax debts alone of more than $680,000. Their company specializing in supplying temporary workers failed due to a faltering economy and an unscrupulous former business partner.