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It seems that Green Bay Packers legend Brett Favre knowingly took part in a plot to misuse Mississippi welfare funds in a scheme that is now being called the biggest fraud scheme in state history.
After a multi-year investigation by the Mississippi auditor’s office, it was revealed that former state Governor Phil Bryant was knowingly taking part in a scheme that saw the Mississippi Community Education Center, a non-profit run by attorney Nancy New that was responsible for the spending of millions of flexible federal welfare dollars, misspend millions of dollars meant for the poor.
On Tuesday, Mississippi Today broke the news of text messages between Favre and New that proved the Packers legend was well aware of the non-profit’s questionable funds when he asked, “if you pay me, is there any way the media can find out where it came from and how much?” during one exchange. The private messages also revealed that Favre, New and Bryant coordinated to use the funds to build a new volleyball facility at his alma mater, Southern Mississippi University, while his daughter was attending the school last year.
However, that isn't where the Hall-of-Famer's involvement ends. It was reported in October 2021 that he previously received payments from the non-profit for speaking engagements he never made. Following the news, Favre fervently denied the allegations and claimed Mississippi State Auditor Chad White and his staff were lying and trying to attack him personally.
Favre has since returned some of those funds and is currently being sued by the state for interest on the misused funds. During a Thursday appearance on CNN, White took Favre to task for claiming he lied, when in fact, it was the Packers legend who knowingly deceived the public last year.
“Frankly, I was angry, because in October of last year Mr. Favre publicly said that I was lying about what we uncovered here. So my auditors, my investigators, documented proof, everything that comes out of the auditor’s office. We were the ones who told the world about the $1.1 million that went to Mr. Favre for speaking engagements that he did not give. Fast forward a little bit, last year he said we were making this personal.
“Now we know Mr. Favre not only knew that he was receiving money from this non-profit, which was funded by taxpayer dollars, but we know the funding for that was a sham and we know that he knows that too. We now know that he didn’t want the media or public to find out about this.
“… The only reason he repaid the principal of the $1.1 million he received was because I demanded it back from him. So he voluntarily paid $500,000 and we demanded the remainder back. He still has not paid the interest on that, and that’s why the state is suing him. … I was always told if you’re trying to hide something, you probably know you did something wrong and that’s the bottom line.”
Mississippi auditor on Brett Favre
Mississippi is one of the poorest states in the country, and approximately 200,000 children live under the poverty line in the state.
“Mr. Favre in his fundraising efforts regarding the volleyball facility has been honorable and wouldn’t at one time think that he was taking money from funds that were not designated for that type of venture,” Favre’s attorney said in a statement to CNN.
More must-reads:
- Shannon Sharpe: Brett Favre's 'been a sleazeball'
- New Bears WR Rome Odunze 'hating the Packers' already
- The '100 catches in an NFL season' quiz
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