Testifying Tuesday earlier than the Home Methods and Means Committee, Corridor of Fame quarterback Brett Favre stated in a ready assertion that he was lately recognized with Parkinson’s illness.
Favre, 54, was testifying about welfare abuses in Mississippi and allegations that he and others used Short-term Help for Needy Households state funds for private and company good points. Favre, who earned about $140 million throughout a 20-year NFL profession that led to 2010, stated in his assertion that he was unaware he was receiving welfare funds and was misled by public officers.
A Mississippi state audit discovered that $5 million in TANF funds paid for the development of a volleyball area on the College of Southern Mississippi — Favre’s alma mater — and that $1.7 million was paid to Prevacus, an organization growing concussion medicine. Favre’s daughter was a volleyball participant at Southern Mississippi on the time and Favre is an investor in Prevacus, whose founder, Jacob VanLandingham, pleaded responsible to wire fraud in July.
Favre, who has not been charged criminally, repaid $1.1 million in TANF cash for speeches he by no means gave. The Mississippi Division of Human Companies filed a civil lawsuit in opposition to him and different defendants, citing textual content messages between Favre and officers as proof of his involvement in embezzling funds.
Learn extra: Granderson: The accusations in opposition to Brett Favre aren’t simply one other NFL scandal
Favre, a Inexperienced Bay Packers legend, performed in additional than 300 NFL video games and has lengthy advocated analysis into concussions and ensuing mind trauma. Requested on the “At the moment” present in 2018 what number of concussions he suffered, Favre replied that he was recognized with “three or 4” however believed the true quantity was far greater.
“When you’ve got ringing of the ears, seeing stars, that is a concussion,” Favre stated on the present. “And if that could be a concussion, I’ve had a whole lot, possibly hundreds, all through my profession, which is scary.”
A 2020 research printed within the journal Household Drugs and Neighborhood Well being decided that “no matter age, intercourse, socioeconomic standing and residence, having suffered a single concussion in a single’s lifetime elevated the probability of later being recognized with Parkinson’s illness by 57%.”
“Sadly, I additionally misplaced an funding in an organization that I believed was growing a breakthrough concussion drug I believed would assist others, and I’m certain you’ll perceive why it’s too late for me as a result of I’ve lately been recognized with Parkinson’s,” Favre instructed the Home committee Tuesday.
Learn extra: A welfare scandal exhibiting tens of millions diverted to the wealthy now sharpens contrasts within the nation’s poorest state
Favre was portrayed in courtroom filings within the embezzlement case as a keen participant within the scheme that allegedly diverted tens of millions of {dollars} meant for the poorest folks within the nation’s poorest state.
Courtroom paperwork and textual content messages outlined his alleged involvement in diverting TANF cash. Favre and then-Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant mentioned by way of textual content utilizing $5 million to assist construct the volleyball area at Southern Mississippi.
Favre additionally exchanged textual content messages with Nancy New, govt director of the schooling heart accountable for allocating tens of millions in authorities funds.
“In case you have been to pay me, is there any manner the media can discover out the place it got here from and the way a lot?” Favre reportedly requested her in 2017.
New, who later pleaded responsible to 13 felony counts of fraud, bribery and racketeering for her function within the theft of TANF funds, replied: “We by no means have that data publicized.”
Journalist Anna Wolfe of Mississippi At the moment revealed the payouts in a Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of articles beginning in April 2022.
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This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Occasions.