Former Governor Phil Bryant and former First Lady Deborah Bryant have filed a federal defamation lawsuit against a sports journalist and Sports Illustrated’s parent company for an article implicating Bryant in a public embezzlement scheme. The lawsuit, filed on May 9, alleges that the article by Michael Rosenberg falsely accused Bryant of being involved in a conspiracy to defraud millions of dollars in welfare funds. The lawsuit also names Mississippi Today and reporter Anna Wolfe for allegedly publishing defamatory statements.
The lawsuit claims that Bryant did not engage in any illegal or unethical behavior related to the welfare scandal and seeks compensatory damages for loss of income, damage to reputation, personal humiliation, and emotional distress. Deborah Bryant also claims loss of consortium due to the impact of the scandal on their marriage.
The lawsuit alleges that Rosenberg and his former employer will struggle to defend the false allegations with evidence. The Bryants’ attorney argues that the article was a desperate attempt to salvage the publication’s reputation, but ultimately resulted in spreading lies.
The lawsuit highlights the impact of false defamation allegations on individuals and their families, and seeks to hold the responsible parties accountable for the damage caused. The Bryants are seeking justice and restitution for the harm they have suffered as a result of the false accusations made against them.
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