Brett Favre Brett Favre has said he didn t know the money he received came from welfare funds. Xxx Sline Brett Favre 081020 Dcb Jpg
NFLPoliticsBy Sean Keeley on

Brett Favre and texting never go well together and it appears he might have gotten himself in trouble once again as more details have been uncovered in the investigation into a Mississippi welfare fund that the NFL Hall of Famer seems to have benefitted from.

To catch us up, according to a court filing in July, former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant directed a woman whose nonprofit received millions in subgrants from the Mississippi Department of Human Services welfare department to give Favre $1.1 million. The revelation came courtesy of Mississippi Today, which has been covering Favre’s involvement since it first reported in October that the former Green Bay Packers quarterback had been told to return $828,000 that he received from welfare funds that should have gone to needy families. Favre reportedly repaid around $600,000 but not the rest, which was considered interest.

The entire ordeal, which has been referred to as “the largest public embezzlement scheme in state history,” also includes other angles from which Favre stood to benefit. The former Green Bay Packers quarterback also wanted a $3.2 million grant to a drug company that he was an investor in and a $5 million award to build a volleyball arena at the University of Southern Mississippi from the former Mississippi governor, whom Favre said in texts that he would like to award shares in the drug company to while he was still governor.

Per Mississippi Today, as part of the state’s ongoing civil lawsuit, texts showing Gov. Bryant pushing to make Favre’s volleyball idea a reality were revealed in further detail. The texts show Bryant guiding Favre on how to write a funding proposal so that it could be accepted by the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

“Just left Brett Favre,” Bryant texted nonprofit founder Nancy New in July of 2019. “Can we help him with his project. We should meet soon to see how I can make sure we keep your projects on course.”

When Favre asked Bryant how changes at the agency might impact their ability to get funds for the volleyball stadium, Bryant assured him, “I will handle that… long story but had to make a change. But I will call Nancy and see what it will take.”

What’s the point? The point is that it appears that Bryant, Favre, and others worked together to siphon off at least $5 million of the state’s welfare funds to build a new volleyball stadium at the University of Southern Mississippi, where Favre played football and his daughter played volleyball. Not only did that end up happening but Favre received much credit for raising funds to build the facility.

Favre’s lawyer confirmed last week that the FBI has spoken with the quarterback about the matter. No charges are pending against him but we’ll see what other information is surfaced through the lawsuit and whether or not that leads to any legal concerns.

In the meantime, the court of public opinion is making its thoughts on Favre and the others allegedly involved known.

https://twitter.com/thatpetewoods/status/1569791066101915651

[Mississippi Today]

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.

View all posts by Sean Keeley