Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre is suing State Auditor Shad White as well as former NFL players Pat McAfee and Shannon Sharpe for defamation tied to comments made about his role in the largest public fraud scheme in Mississippi history.
First reported by the Daily Mail, Favre is taking legal action against Sharpe and McAfee, who are now media personalities, for accusing the former Southern Miss standout of using public funds for his benefit and stealing from impoverished Mississippians on their respective platforms.
White is being accused of capitalizing on an opportunity to gain notoriety from national media outlets by misleading the public about Favre’s alleged role in the welfare scandal.
The Mississippi Department of Human Services rescinded its $1.1 million demand from Favre after he reportedly repaid the funds in December. The department then issued a $5 million demand while accusing the retired quarterback of deliberately using Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to construct a new volleyball stadium for Southern Miss.
Fletcher Freeman, White’s director of media relations, issued the following statement in response to Favre’s lawsuit:
“Everything Auditor White has said about this case is true and is backed by years of audit work by the professionals at the Office of the State Auditor. It’s mind-boggling that Mr. Favre wants to have a trial about that question. Mr. Favre has called Auditor White and his team liars despite repaying some of the money our office demanded from him. He’s also claimed the auditors are liars despite clear documentary evidence showing he benefitted from misspent funds. Instead of paying New York litigators to try this case, he’d be better off fully repaying the amount of welfare funds he owes the state.”
