Mississippi judge dismisses lawsuit against news outlet for Brett Favre reporting in $77,000,000 welfare fraud

On Friday, a Mississippi judge Bradley Mills dismissed the high-profile defamation lawsuit tied to the $77 million welfare fraud scandal, in which Favre’s name was repeatedly dragged. However, the 3x NFL MVP never faced criminal charges.

The lawsuit was originally filed by former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant nearly two years back, taking an aim at nonprofit news outlet Mississippi Today and its Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting.

The ruling shut down claims that the outlet defamed Bryant, involving Favre's alleged ties to misused state welfare funds.

In a statement to ESPN, Lee Crain, the Mississippi Today attorney, called the defamation lawsuit "baseless" and labeleld Pulitzer Prize-winner Anna Wolfe's stories "exactly the type of reporting the First Amendment was intended to protect."

However, Bryant’s legal team hasn’t backed down yet.

"This matter is far from over,” said his attorney, Billy Quinn, who confirmed plans to appeal the ruling. "Governor Bryant remains confident in the legal basis and righteousness of his case."

"A Win for Press Freedom," Mississippi Today headlined their legal victory on Friday and stood firm saying,

"The reporting speaks for itself. The truth speaks for itself"

---

What is the Brett Favre's Mississippi Welfare scandal all about?

The Brett Favre scandal was a product of one of the biggest public corruption cases in the history of Mississippi. It started with the misuse of $77 million in welfare funds and, following investigative reports, uncovered that federal money was being diverted into unrelated projects that were initially intended for poor families.

One of the projects directly involved 55-year-old quarterback Brett Favre. Otherwise, a squeaky-clean character, the former NFL quarterback, was charged in a 2022 lawsuit.

He was accused of improperly profiting from the state's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The most disturbing charge was that more than $5 million was used to construct a volleyball center at the University of Southern Mississippi, which just so happens to be Favre's old school and where his daughter had played the sport.

Mississippi Today, a non-profit news organization, published a comprehensive five-part series titled "The Backchannel," which earned reporter Anna Wolfe a Pulitzer Prize. Their reporting indicated collusion between Favre and then-Governor Phil Bryant. Both deny any wrongdoing to date.

Favre subsequently sued Shannon Sharpe and Pat McAfee for defamation for their reports, both of which were dismissed and withdrawn, respectively.