Brett Favre texts included in Mississippi welfare money lawsuit

CNN
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Text messages released as part of a civil lawsuit over welfare funds in Mississippi allegedly show former Governor Phil Bryant worked to aid former NFL quarterback and Hall of Famer Brett Favre Get paid to build a volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi.

“I just left Brett Farff (sic). Can we help him with his project,” Bryant wrote to Nancy New, founder of the nonprofit Mississippi Community Education Center, in a July 2019 letter. “We should meet soon to see how I can make sure we keep your projects in right track.”

In a separate conversation about two years ago, Favre wrote to New about his concerns about media publicity.

“If you’re going to pay me, is there anyway the media can find out where it came from and how much?” Favre wrote in a letter in August 2017.

“No, this information was never released,” Niu said.

The next day, New Favre texted with an update: “Wow, I just got off the phone with Phil Bryant! He’s on board with us! We’ll get this done!”

More than two years later, Bryant sent New a text message asking if she had obtained any of the new programs through the Mississippi Department of Human Services (DHS). Neo responded, in part, that “someone” was “definitely pulling us backstage,” and thanked Bryant. He replied with an expressive smile.

The text messages were included in a legal file on Monday as part of a civil lawsuit brought by the Mississippi Department of Homeland Security over poor spending of welfare funds. Attorney Thomas Bofkin, who represents him The nonprofit Mississippi Community Education Center in New York, one of the defendants, included the scripts as part of a proposal to force Bryant to produce more documents.

The lawsuit stems from an investigation into How did the state spend tens of millions of dollars? With federal money that was meant to go to those who need it most — the largest public fraud scheme in state history, according to state auditor.

Today’s Mississippi media outlet, who has covered the scheme for several years, has Reported that at least 5 million From welfare money was directed to build a new volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi. Favre played football for school from 1987-90 and his daughter played volleyball there 2017–2022.

In April, Neo and her son were found guilty of their role in a scheme to use welfare funds to build a volleyball center. Neither Bryant nor Favre has been charged with wrongdoing.

Bryant’s attorney, William M. Quinn II, a statement in response to the lawsuit.

“Governor Bryant has informed Nancy Neue’s attorney that he will submit the requested documents even though he is not a party to the suit. All documents are featured, so Governor Bryant has asked Neo’s attorney to agree to a protective order that would allow the documents to be used in court with some reasonable restrictions,” he said. Quinn.

Cases must be heard in courts that govern rules of evidence and respect privileges. They should not be prosecuted in the press, as insinuations and conjectures are sometimes confused with actual facts. Neo’s lawyer appears to prefer trying his client in the latter case than the previous one.”

Favre’s attorney, Bud Holmes, denied any wrongdoing. “From the beginning, Brett has been a supervisor from day one until today,” he said.

The University of Southern Mississippi did not respond to a request for comment.

in may 2020, Announced Mississippi State Auditor That the state Department of Human Services wasted tens of millions of dollars in federal welfare grant money through misuse, personal use, and spending on family members, friends of employees, and grantees, including Favre.

The eight-month investigation showed that the administration provided more than $98 million to two nonprofit organizations: the Mississippi Community Education Center and the North Mississippi Family Resource Center.

Of the $98 million, $94 million was “questioned,” meaning it either misspent or auditors were unable to determine whether it was spent legally. State auditor Chad White said most of the money, awarded over a three-year period, from 2016 to 2019, came from the Temporary Assistance Program for Needy Families.

Among the “questionable” spending was a series of payments made to Favre by the Mississippi Community Education Center.

The audit shows that Favre Enterprises earned $500,000 in December 2017 and $600,000 in June 2018 for giving speeches at multiple events. However, the auditor’s report states that “Based on a quick review of those dates, the auditors were able to determine that the individual contracted with did not speak and was not present for these events.”

A follow-up review by a Maryland accounting firm found that more than $77 million was improperly used from the state’s welfare program through nonprofits.

A native of Mississippi, Favre made millions of dollars during his NFL career from 1991 to 2010, primarily as quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

In October 2021, Favre The state paid $600,000 But authorities said he still owed $228,000 in interest.

“I have never received money for commitments I have not fulfilled,” Favre said in a May 2020 tweet. I will return the full amount to Mississippi.”

His attorney, Holmes, said Wednesday that Favre did not know the source of the money.

“He had no idea where it came from. When it later transpired that the money he had been paid to speak came from money designed by the government…for the poor or less fortunate, Brett returned it,” said Holmes.