Corridor of Fame quarterback Brett Favre introduced Tuesday whereas testifying on Capitol Hill at a listening to about alleged welfare misspending that he was “lately identified with Parkinson’s illness.”
Favre, a retired NFL quarterback who performed for the Inexperienced Bay Packers from 1992-2007, revealed the information Tuesday morning whereas showing earlier than a Republican-led Home Methods and Means Committee listening to on welfare abuses. He’s at the moment being sued by the state Mississippi over the receipt of funds, by way of talking charges, that had been meant for poor girls and youngsters. He is additionally been accused of improperly utilizing his political connections to redirect welfare funds to his alma mater.
In his opening assertion earlier than the committee Tuesday, Favre claimed he was the sufferer of unscrupulous public officers and stated he by no means knew he was receiving welfare funds.
“Sadly, I additionally misplaced an funding in an organization that I believed was creating a breakthrough concussion drug I believed would assist others, and I am certain you will perceive why it is too late for me as a result of I’ve lately been identified with Parkinson’s,” Favre stated. “That is additionally a trigger expensive to my coronary heart. Not too long ago, the physician, working the corporate pleaded responsible to taking TANF cash for his personal use.”
Favre has beforehand stated in interviews that he suffers from reminiscence loss possible as a consequence of repeated head accidents over the course of his profession. The Parkinson’s prognosis had not beforehand been disclosed.
Favre was invited to talk earlier than the congressional committee by Chairman Republican Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri as a part of a listening to that examines how states are falling brief on utilizing welfare to assist households in want.
Favre repaid simply over $1 million in state welfare cash he accepted for speeches the place he did not seem. It was unclear, nevertheless, how a lot Favre would say in the course of the listening to as a result of a Mississippi choose in 2023 put a gag order on him and others as a part of the swimsuit.
Favre has repeatedly denied figuring out that the cash got here from welfare funds, although textual content messages obtained throughout discovery present in any other case, plaintiffs allege.
Brett Favre and the Mississippi Welfare Funds Scandal
Mississippi has ranked among the many poorest states within the U.S. for many years, however solely a fraction of its federal welfare cash has been going to households. As a substitute, the Mississippi Division of Human Companies allowed well-connected individuals to waste tens of tens of millions of welfare {dollars} from 2016 to 2019, based on Mississippi Auditor Shad White and state and federal prosecutors.
Favre isn’t dealing with any legal fees, however he’s amongst greater than three dozen defendants in a civil lawsuit the state filed in 2022. The swimsuit calls for compensation of cash that was misspent by way of TANF.
White, a Republican, stated in 2020 that Favre had improperly obtained $1.1 million in talking charges from a nonprofit group that spent welfare with approval from the state Division of Human Companies. White stated Favre didn’t present up for the speeches. Though Favre repaid the $1.1 million, he nonetheless owes practically $730,000 in curiosity, White stated.
The TANF cash was to go towards a volleyball enviornment on the College of Southern Mississippi. Favre agreed to steer fundraising efforts for the ability at his alma mater, the place his daughter began taking part in on the volleyball group in 2017.
A nonprofit group known as the Mississippi Neighborhood Training Heart made two funds of welfare cash to Favre Enterprises, the athlete’s enterprise: $500,000 in December 2017 and $600,000 in June 2018.
Courtroom data present that on Dec. 27, 2017, Favre texted the middle’s director, Nancy New: “Nancy Santa got here in the present day and dropped some cash off (two smiling emojis) thanks my goodness thanks.”
“Sure he did,” New responded. “He felt you had been fairly good this 12 months!”
New pleaded responsible in April 2022 to fees of misspending welfare cash, as did her son Zachary New, who helped run the nonprofit. They await sentencing and have agreed to testify towards others.
Favre stated he didn’t know the funds he obtained got here from welfare funds and famous his charity had supplied tens of millions of {dollars} to poor children in his residence state of Mississippi and Wisconsin, the place he performed most of his profession with the Inexperienced Bay Packers.