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Attorneys representing retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre will present arguments to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday to revive a defamation lawsuit he filed against former Pro Football Hall of Fame member Shannon Sharpe. This legal action unfolds against the backdrop of a significant Mississippi welfare scandal, one of the state’s largest public corruption cases.
Last October, a federal judge in Mississippi dismissed Favre’s lawsuit, ruling that Sharpe’s remarks on a sports broadcast constituted constitutionally protected speech when he criticized Favre’s involvement in the welfare misspending case.
Favre seeks reinstatement of the lawsuit, prompted by Sharpe’s comments during a September 2022 episode of the Fox Sports show “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed.” Sharpe alleged that Favre had taken funds from disadvantaged individuals and improperly benefited from funds intended for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
Mississippi State Auditor Shad White’s investigation revealed that from 2016 to 2019, over $77 million of TANF funds were misappropriated by the Mississippi Department of Human Services. Among these findings was Favre’s receipt of $1.1 million in speaking fees from a nonprofit organization, approved by the Department of Human Services for a volleyball arena project at The University of Southern Mississippi.
Although Favre has repaid $1.1 million, a recent court filing by White indicated that interest has accrued, resulting in a remaining owed amount of $729,790.
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