Mississippi State LB Leo Lewis was among three defendants in a legal complaint made by Rebel Rags, a clothing store in Oxford, claiming that he, fellow Bulldog Kobe Jones and Laremy Tunsil’s stepfather, Lindsey Miller, provided false information in an NCAA investigation.

John Wheeler, who is representing Lewis in the case, told The Clarion-Ledger that he believes Lewis’s name should be removed from the complaint.

He said the claims are defamatory to his client and that the truth should be enough to clear his client’s name:

“You can’t stand to recover damages for defamation when you self-publish a defamatory or alleged defamatory comment,” Wheeler said. “It’s important to remember that the truth is absolute defense to any claim of defamation. Always has been, always will be.”

Rebel Rags claims Lewis lied when he said he received free merchandise from the store, which would constitute an NCAA violation. But, according to Wheeler’s response, Lewis’s statements in the confidential investigation were absolutely accurate:

“The only publication of any alleged statement by Leo Lewis has been made by Rebel Rags itself,” Wheeler said.

“I really can’t speak to whatever communication, if any, that Leo Lewis has had during the course of his compulsory, confidential participation in the investigation of the University of Mississippi football program and I can tell you he did not knowingly provide false information to anyone in the investigative process,” Wheeler added.

Whatever ends up happening in this case, it looks like the legal battle is just getting started. It’s safe to say we’ll be hearing plenty more about Rebel Rags and the three people involved in the complaint.