A Michigan government official has sued former political allies, accusing them of libel and other injuries.
Ben Wetmore, who is Ottawa County’s deputy administrator, and Victory Strategies filed their complaint in federal court in Missouri against Adam Brassfield, Veronica Brassfield, Adam Brassfield Inc. and Brass21 Productions.
The plaintiffs accusing the defendants of libel, injurious falsehood, interference with a business relationship and/or expectancy under Missouri law. They also allege violations of the Lanham Act.
“As a direct result of (the) defendant's defamatory statements, clients have terminated their relationship with plaintiffs or backed out of planned business relationships with plaintiffs, causing direct pecuniary losses to plaintiffs,” Wetmore’s complaint states. “These statements were objectively and provably false and defamatory.”
Wetmore is a lawyer and former legislative aide for Michigan state Representative Matt Maddock. Wetmore also owns Victory Strategies, a political consulting firm that manages political campaigns. Maddock is one of several lawmakers behind Michigan’s Grand New Party, which has been called a far-right offshoot of the Republican Party.
Wetmore is known as a staunch conservative. Adam Brassfield is a political campaign manager who co-owns and operates defendant companies 1 & 2 along with Veronica Brassfield. The two are residents of Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
Wetmore and Adam Brassfield partnered to advise Michigan GOP candidates in the 2022 election. Wetmore claims Brassfield published a letter on social media saying Wetmore was involved in a "pay to play" scheme in which former President Donald Trump would endorse candidates for a $30,000 payment to Meshawn in exchange for a $30,000 kickback to Maddock’s wife Meshawn Maddock and former co-chairwoman of the Michigan GOP.
Mehawn Maddock is one of 16 charged for allegedly acting as a false elector in the 2020 election.
Wetmore’s lawsuit also mentions videos and other things published on the internet meant to defame him. He seeks compensatory damages for ruining his reputation, business losses and branding damages as well as attorney fees. He also asks the court to require Brassfield to issue a press release apologizing and retracting his claims about Wetmore.