Pat McAfee moves to DISMISS Brett Favre's 'joke' defamation lawsuit

Pat McAfee has filed a motion to dismiss Brett Favre’s federal defamation lawsuit against the YouTube host.

McAfee, a former NFL punter-turned-sports media personality, was sued by the Packers legend over statements made on his talk show about Favre’s involvement in a $77 million welfare fraud scheme in Mississippi.

Favre has not been charged with a crime in the case, but did receive millions in federal welfare funding, which he then used on a series of personal projects, such as a volleyball gym at his alma mater, Southern Miss, where his daughter played the sport at the time.

‘Hello beautiful people,’ McAfee announced in a lengthy Twitter post. ‘As of a few moments ago, I have filed for the dismissal of Brett Favre’s defamation lawsuit against me in a Federal Court in the fine state of Mississippi.’

Included in McAfee’s announcement was a challenge to Favre: ‘Brett, match me with a donation to a Big Brothers Big Sisters foundation in Mississippi. Let’s help out the next generation of Mississippians together. Let’s give some support to the citizens of your state who might need it a little bit, and let’s make something positive out of this sad clown show of a defamation suit with no merit.’

Pat McAfee (left) has filed a motion to dismiss Brett Favre’s federal defamation lawsuit 

Pat McAfee’s motion to dismiss claims Favre is attempting to deflect from accusations

Read Related Also: Alabama Cop Shot Dead, Another Critically Wounded in Line of Duty

Favre filed defamation lawsuits against two former NFL players-turned media personalities – Fox Sports’ Shannon Sharpe and McAfee – as well as Mississippi Auditor Shad White over allegations he knowingly used welfare funds on those personal projects. 

The 53-year-old Favre has not been charged in the $77 million welfare fraud case, which has already resulted in several guilty pleas, and he has repaid the $1.1 million he received for no-show speaking gigs and radio ads. 

However, in December, Mississippi issued a new $5million demand as part of its lawsuit against Favre, saying he used anti-poverty funds to pay for the volleyball arena. 

Earlier this month, Mississippi’s Department of Human Services directed a state judge to ignore Favre’s request to be removed from the civil suit that seeks to recover the misspent welfare money.

The scandal is Mississippi’s largest-ever public corruption case, and involves millions in federal welfare being squandered on projects supported by some of the state’s wealthiest and well-connected citizens, including Favre.

Favre’s attorneys, including former Donald Trump lawyer Eric Herschmann, have argued that the Department of Human Services is suing their client to deflect from their own negligence for failing to catch the fraud as it occurred. Favre’s defense team has filed a pair of requests urging the judge to dismiss Favre.

McAfee made a similar counterclaim in his motion to dismiss, arguing that it is Favre who is attempting to deflect. 

‘Favre’s attempt now to deflect attention away from [Mississippi Department of Human Services’] highly publicized claims against him and to silence media defendants from reporting on such claims should not be countenanced,’ read McAfee’s motion, filed Friday in federal court. 

McAfee wrote in his tweet that he is confident the lawsuit will be dismissed, but added that he and his legal team are ‘very ready and prepared for the next steps in court.’