Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre is a divisive figure among fans. Many remember him fondly for his time in the NFL, especially with the Packers. The Pro Football Hall of Famer won three NFL MVP Awards and helped lead Green Bay to victory in Super Bowl XXXI and an appearance in Super Bowl XXXII.
Many others, however, soured on Favre when he retired and then unretired just so he could sign with the Minnesota Vikings in free agency. His decision to go and play for one of the Packers’ biggest rivals is still considered one of the biggest betrayals in team history.
That all being said, many view Favre in a negative light due to the allegations brought against him in the Mississippi welfare scandal.
Former Green Bay Packers Quarterback Brett Favre Allegedly Stole Millions of Dollars from the State of Mississippi
Back in May of 2022, Favre was named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit that accused him of stealing millions of dollars from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families fund in Mississippi. The state of Mississippi has the largest poverty rate in the nation, so Favre’s alleged actions were deemed even more heinous.
Along with Favre, former Mississippi governor Phil Bryant and Prevacus founder Jake Van Landingham were also named in the suit. While Bryant has filed suit against the journalists and media company that broke the story of the alleged scandal, Van Landingham has already pled guilty to wire fraud.
Favre, of course, has denied any wrongdoing. However, he has had to repay $1.1 million to the state of Mississippi for speaking engagements that he did not honor.
The Hall of Fame quarterback has not been indicted nor convicted of any crimes. Still, many people, including media personalities, are not quiet about where they stand on whether or not Favre is guilty.
A few months ago, Favre sued his fellow Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe for comments made about him on his show. An example of said comments was that he “stole money from people that really needed that money.” (Favre also sued Pat McAfee, but nothing became of that case either).
A federal judge, though, threw the lawsuit out.
Back in July of this year, Favre appealed the decision to dismiss his lawsuit. On Monday, he got an answer from the court.
Brett Favre Loses Appeal in Lawsuit Against Shannon Sharpe
Packers13 Spt Lynn 16
Favre’s request to have his lawsuit against Sharpe reinstated by the court has been denied. According to Bloomberg Law (via The Spun), the judge overseeing the suit wrote:
“At the time Sharpe made the statements, the facts on which he was relying were publicly known, and Sharpe had a right to characterize those publicly known facts caustically and unfairly. Sharpe’s statements were his ‘strongly stated’ opinions ‘based on truthful established fact[s],’ and thus nonactionable.”
With his lawsuit against Sharpe dismissed once again, Favre now has to look ahead to whether or not he himself will be brought up on charges in Mississippi. As mentioned, he has not been arrested, indicted, or convicted of any crimes.
But time is running out for the state if they want to bring charges against Favre. The alleged incidents happened in 2017 and have a statute of limitations of seven years. If they do not get any charges filed within the next few months, Favre will not face any consequences for anything he may have done.
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