Brett Favre was insatiable in his desire to gain assistance to pay for a new volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi, despite the potential misuse of state welfare, according to a report.
Favre allegedly pressed for state officials to help him build a new volleyball complex according to the most recent court filing relating to Mississippi’s welfare scandal, obtained by ESPN.
Favre has not been charged with regard to the welfare misspending case, but did receive $1.1million in state welfare money for no-show speaking gigs, which he has since repaid, according to state officials.
State Auditor Shad Whit last year demanded repayment of $77m of misspent welfare funds — including $1.1m to Favre — from several people and groups.
In a Facebook post when he repaid the first $500,000, Favre said he did not know the money he received came from welfare funds. He also said his charity had provided millions of dollars to poor children in Mississippi and Wisconsin.
The former Packers quarterback is accused of attempting to funnel $5m into the new volleyball complex built at Southern Miss, where his daughter played the sport in 2017 and 2018.
Brett Favre allegedly pressed for state officials to help him build a new volleyball complex
Favre has been accused of getting welfare money to build a college volleyball facility
Per the ESPN report, then-Mississippi Gov. Bryant texted Favre on July 28, 2019, telling the non-profit, which had paid him for promoting the volleyball initiative, ‘has some limited control over Federal Funds in the form of Grants for Children and adults in the Low Income Community.’
‘Use of these funds [are] tightly controlled,’ Bryant wrote, according to the filing sourced by ESPN. ‘Any improper use could result in violation of Federal Law. Auditors are currently reviewing the use of these funds.’
Per the report on the filing, on September 4, 2019, Favre sent a text to Bryant following a meeting — in which they were both present — where they and others discussed proposing for further funding for ‘programs’ at the new volleyball facility.
Favre is also accused of attempting to funnel $5million into the new complex built at his alma mater, Southern Miss, where his daughter was playing volleyball in 2018. That scheme allegedly involved former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and Nancy New, who ran a nonprofit in the state and has since pleaded guilty to fraud charges. Text messages purportedly showing Favre, New and Bryant working on the scheme were included in a filing last week. In one from August of 2017, Favre texted New, asking: ‘If you were to pay me is there anyway the media can find out where it came from and how much?’
‘We obviously need your help big time and time is working against us,’ Favre is reported to have written to Bryant.
‘And we feel that your name is the perfect choice for this facility and we are not taking No for an answer! You are a Southern Miss Alumni, and folks need to know you are also a supporter of the University.’
Bryant responded, according to the report on said filing: ‘We are going to get there. This was a great meeting. But we have to follow the law. I am to [sic] old for Federal Prison.’
Favre is an NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl winner in 1998 (pictured) with the Packers
Favre has paid back $1.1m and has not been charged with regard to welfare misspending case
The firm representing the NFL Hall of Famer — The Holmes Law Firm — did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment from Dailymail.com.
Text messages purportedly showing Favre, Nancy New — who ran a nonprofit in the state and has since pleaded guilty to fraud charges — and Bryant working on the scheme were included in a filing two weeks ago.
In one from August of 2017, Favre texted New, asking: ‘If you were to pay me is there anyway the media can find out where it came from and how much?’
According to a Mississippi Today report, involved parties managed to find a loophole regarding the expenditure of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds, in which the Mississippi Department of Human Services put forth $4m toward the facility upgrade.
Favre has reportedly been questioned by the FBI over a $1.1million payment made to him.
Favre is a Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL MVP who played for the Falcons, Packers, Jets and Vikings, but is most famous for his 15 years as quarterback in Green Bay.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk