Brett Favre Mississippi Welfare Fund Scandal: We Explain It

Green Bay Packers Legend Brett FavreTrump's alleged role in a wide-ranging welfare fraud scandal took him from his home state of Mississippi to Capitol Hill, where he testified before Congress on Tuesday, September 24.

Favre, along with the former governor Phil Bryantare the two most prominent figures in a scandal arising from the misallocation of $77 million in federal funds intended to serve the state's lowest-income residents in Mississippi.

Some of those misdirected funds went to Favre himself or to causes Favre championed, such as a new volleyball facility on the campus of his alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi. Favre's daughter was on the school's volleyball team at the time.

The former quarterback also allegedly directed some of the funds to the defunct pharmaceutical company Prevacus, in which he was an investor.

Additionally, Favre received $1.1 million from that fund in speaking fees at events he ultimately never attended. Favre returned that money, but allegedly did not pay back the $730,000 in interest the Mississippi Department of Human Services says he owes. Favre has denied wrongdoing and faces no criminal charges, but the state is suing him to recover that interest.

In a surprising twist, Favre revealed his Parkinson's diagnosis during his testimony, bringing the hearing even further into the spotlight.

“Sadly, I also lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing an innovative concussion drug that I thought would help others, and I'm sure you can understand why it's too late for me, because I was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's. ”Favre said.

The key players

The entire web of this scandal is complicated, but it begins with Bryant, who was in office from 2012 to 2020. Bryant named John Davis to the position of state welfare director in 2016. During his four-year tenure, Davis directed millions of federal dollars to the nonprofit Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC), led by nancy new. New allegedly worked closely with Bryant and Favre to direct some of those funds, intended to help impoverished Mississippians.

The money for the USM volleyball facilities, for example, came from the MCEC, “under the pretext that poor people would attend courses at the facilities.” according Mississippi today.

Davis, son of New and New Zechariah All have since been arrested and found guilty of state and federal charges.

The essence

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides a certain amount of money annually to each state as a means of assistance to those living in poverty. Under the Bryant administration, tens of millions of dollars in TANF grants were funneled through two nonprofit organizations, including MCEC, in a way the state auditor deemed “questionable.”

Favre, the Southern Mississippi volleyball program and Prevacus were among the recipients of those funds. Favre and Bryant claim not to know where the money came from, but unearthed text messages put that into doubt. For example, Favre texted New in August 2017: “If you paid me, is there any way the media can find out where it came from and how much?”

After Davis was forced out of his position, Favre texted Bryant, asking how that would affect funding for the volleyball facility.

“I'll deal with that… long story, but I had to make a change,” Bryant wrote. “But I'll call Nancy and see what's needed.”

Why is it so important

Over a four-year period, up to $77 million intended for Mississippi's neediest families went elsewhere. In 2019, Mississippi had a higher poverty rate than any state in the country, hovering around 19.6 percent. The national average at the time was 10.5 percent, according to The Center for American Progress.

Mississippi today reports that from 2016 to 2020, the state allocated 317 million dollars in total into TANF funds, meaning the misallocated portion represented nearly a quarter of the total amount.

The legal process is still underway, but while Davis awaits sentencing, he faces up to 15 years in prison for his role in the scandal. Meanwhile, New faces up to 10 years in prison and Zachary, who helped her run the nonprofit, faces up to five.

What people say

While Favre maintains his innocence, insisting that he didn't know where the money came from and didn't even know what TANF was at the time, others aren't buying it.

my kimesone of ESPN's top football reporters, called Favre a “disgrace” on the network's popular roundtable show. Around the Horn in 2022.

“What Brett Favre did was not just stupid, it was cruel,” he added via unknown. “And it tarnishes a legacy that, frankly, should have already been diminished.”

Jen Stergerthe Jets' game-day announcer during Favre's only season in New York, spoke out after Favre made his Parkinson's diagnosis public on Tuesday, writing via Instagram,“I don't wish bad things on anyone, but I know that Karma never forgets an address. Imagine being diagnosed with such a terrible disease and not having the resources to fight it because a Hall of Fame quarterback stole it from you?

Sterger accused Favre in 2010 of sending her inappropriate photos and explicit text messages during his time with the Jets, which she said damaged her reputation and career.

What's next?

Many things are happening at once. Davis, as well as Nancy and Zachary New, are still awaiting sentencing, while Favre's case is ongoing.

Meanwhile, a new wrinkle has emerged. Bryant sued Mississippi today for defamation earlier this year and is now seeking to retain Anna Wolfethe Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who uncovered the scandal, in contempt of court for failing to disclose her notes, emails and confidential sources she collected while reporting.

Wolfe and his newspaper editors could face prison sentences if they don't comply. Your editor, Adam Ganucheauhe said he would better go to jail than revealing confidential sources.