Mississippi Gave Welfare Money to $140-Millionaire Brett Favre For Undelivered Speeches
Money also went to Favre's alma mater. Meanwhile, 90% of welfare applications in the state are denied.
Mississippi, the poorest state in the United States, paid football star Brett Favre $1.1 million out of federal welfare funds to give “motivational speeches.” Favre was funded in 2017 and 2018, reportedly under the direction of former Governor Phil Bryant for the speeches that were never delivered.
Due to state auditor demand, Favre had to repay the fees but neglected to pay $228,000 in interest charges. He’s now been questioned by the FBI in a case that has spanned more than two years.
Former Gov. Bryant’s Mississippi was given $70 million as part of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF). In 2020, it was said the money was delivered to the Mississippi Community Education Center and Family Resource Center of North Mississippi. Favre and other wealthy people and facilities were actually the recipients.
$5 million was given to the University of Southern Mississippi to build a volleyball facility (Favre’s alma mater and where his daughter was on the volleyball team)
$400,000 was given to the former welfare agency director’s nephew for “coding skills classes” despite the nephew not having the skills to code or teach
$3 million to Ted DiBiase, retired professional wrestler
$370,000 to Marcus Dupree, former college football player
$300,000 to Paul LaCoste, the current governor’s athletic trainer
For his part, Favre says he was unaware of what the funds were supposed to go toward. He also says he didn’t get paid for events he didn’t attend. It’s unclear, then, what he believes he was paid for.
The state auditor, Shad White, a Republican, has called this Mississippi’s largest public corruption case in twenty years.
Brad Pigott, a former Clinton-appointed U.S. attorney, was fired by current MS Governor Tate Reeves, a Republican. Pigott sued on behalf of the state’s welfare agency before he was fired, naming 38 recipients of the grant, including Favre, to uncover the money intended for poor families. Former MS Gov. Bryant claims innocence.
This information has now been revealed because Nancy New, who ran a non-profit and was directed to send the funds by Bryant, by her account, has pleaded guilty to state and federal charges and is cooperating.
Favre tweeted last year: I would never knowingly take funds meant to help our neighbors in need.”
However, Mississippi Today obtained authenticated text messages that show Favre also sought a $3.2 million grant to drug company Prevacus, which he has shares in as the largest outside individual investor, some of which he considered awarding to former Gov. Bryant.
Favre texted, “Don’t know if legal or not, but we need to cut him in…also if legal I’ll give some of my shares to the Governor.”
Mississippi has a high rejection rate of welfare applications – 90% – and just 23.2% of poor children received benefits this year. Ultimately, they are the ones who suffer.
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As a person who is both disabled and only barely able to survive because of state welfare, albeit in a different state, THANK YOU for this reporting. It is so, so important and things like this are so seldomly covered or given any priority. No one cares about the disabled and poor. No doubt people are dying and homeless in Mississippi because of this corruption. You covering things like this means a lot to me.
Brilliant investigation work!! This is must-see reporting for anyone serious about defending democracy.