The defamation case filed by former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant against Sports Illustrated reporter Michael Rosenberg, regarding a story that highlighted Bryant’s involvement in the Brett Favre welfare scandal, has been dismissed with prejudice by a federal judge. The news was first reported by former Front Office Sports reporter A.J. Perez.
NEWS: The defamation lawsuit former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant filed against SI reporter Michael Rosenberg and the Arena Group was dismissed (with prejudice) by a federal judge. https://t.co/XPSWWMIQco
— A.J. Perez (@byajperez) March 25, 2025
Rosenberg’s 2023 article uncovered that Favre and Bryant were key figures in a welfare scheme that benefited the Hall of Fame quarterback. Between 2017 and 2019, John Davis, the director of Mississippi’s welfare agency appointed by Bryant, misallocated tens of millions of dollars in welfare funds, some of which financed a volleyball stadium at Southern Mississippi, Favre’s alma mater, where his daughter played on the women’s volleyball team. Davis plead guilty to both federal and state charges in 2022. Despite incriminating communications unearthed by Rosenberg, both Bryant and Favre have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Bryant’s defamation claims alleged that Rosenberg acted with malice by disregarding what the former governor referred to as a “mountain of objective evidence” proving his innocence. However, the federal court’s ruling issued on Tuesday stated, “Bryant fails to plausibly allege that [Sports Illustrated publisher] Arena or Rosenberg acted with actual malice, which is required to maintain his defamation claim…Thus, the Court dismisses Bryant’s claims against Arena and Rosenberg with prejudice.” You can view the court’s full ruling here, courtesy of Perez.
