Court filing alleges Trump adviser received cash, luxury gifts from foreign interests
A former business partner is accusing MAGA media guru Alex Bruesewitz of receiving lavish gifts from foreign individuals in Qatar and Syria while also pursuing lucrative deals with other entities looking to unlock access to U.S.
Key points
- “The relationships and access Bruesewitz cultivated through X Strategies were valuable commercial assets, particularly to foreign interests seeking introductions to American political figures, access to governmental institutions, or assistance advancing their commercial and political objectives,” the filing says.
- Bruesewitz has previously advocated for conservative influencers to disclose their relationships with foreign governments seeking to sway the Trump administration.
- The allegations were made in a court filing Monday by Derek Utley, who co-founded the digital firm X Strategies in 2017 with Bruesewitz.
Additionally, the filing alleges that Bruesewitz told Utley that his honeymoon hotel stay in the Maldives was paid for by “two Syrian billionaires” who provided access to a suite that ordinarily costs $15,000 a night.
Additional details
- In the Monday filing responding to that lawsuit, Utley calls it a “marketing ploy masquerading as a federal lawsuit” and denies allegations he embezzled the company’s money or used its funds to gamble.
- “Upon information and belief, Bruesewitz received approximately $500,000 from individuals associated with Qatar in connection with an undisclosed business or consulting arrangement.” Bruesewitz’s lawyer Bradford Cohen denied all the allegations.
- “Getting foreign influence out of the political ecosystem, specifically online, is a very — it’s a passion project of mine,” Bruesewitz said in the interview.
- “Desperate men resort to desperate things, and this screams of desperation.” Bruesewitz continues to advise conservative figures in Trump’s orbit.
- The filing includes a countersuit against X Strategies that claims Utley was fired from the company without cause over a requested medical leave.
How this summary was made: extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting. It is drawn only from the reporting of the sources listed below — read the originals for full detail. How we summarize →
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