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- September 27, 2022
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Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre’s alleged role in the Mississippi welfare-fraud scandal is only spiraling further into legacy-upending territory. New court filings show the legendary Packers player pressed former Mississippi governor Phil Bryant over text message for additional funds to construct an athletic facility at his alma mater, even after Favre was informed that using welfare funds for such projects “could result in violation of Federal Law,” according to the AP.
The millions that Favre secured for the University of Southern Mississippi’s volleyball facility, the school where his daughter played, is being investigated as part of a probe into the Mississippi Department of Human Services and its misuse of millions in federal funding meant for “needy families,” Mississippi Today reported. Favre has not been charged criminally but is a defendant in a sprawling civil suit filed by the state of Mississippi earlier this year in an attempt to recoup more than $20 million that was “squandered.” (According to Insider, Favre’s attorney Bud Holmes said that Favre never knew the money came from welfare funds. Favre “has been honorable from day one,” and “He has done so much charity work—and that’s all it was here,” Holmes told Insider.)
In 2017, Favre’s proposal to build a new volleyball arena at the Hattiesburg-based university received $5 million from the educational nonprofit Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC), whose leaders misused funds for the construction project. However, in 2019, according to text messages in the court documents filed Friday, Favre needed another round of funding, launching a “campaign to aggressively lobby the governor to help him cover the debt on the USM Volleyball Center,” according to Bryant’s attorneys. A total of roughly $8 million in public funds allegedly went to Favre and his pet projects.
According to a July 2019 text, Bryant warns Favre of the legal risks that come with using such “tightly controlled” funds. “As soon as we get approval we can move forward,” Bryant wrote in new text messages submitted by his attorney. “Without that approval, any expenditure could be illegal…and USM could be made to repay the Federal Government any and all funds spent.”
The warnings seemingly failed to dissuade Favre, who not only lobbied to finish the volleyball facility but also asked the then governor to consider building an indoor football complex at Southern Miss. to help the school’s recruiting efforts. “We obviously need your help big time and time is working against us,” Favre wrote in a September 2019 exchange after the two had met with the state’s Human Services director. “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.” “We are going to get there,” Bryant texted Favre. “But we have to follow the law. I am to[o] old for Federal Prison.” In previously unveiled texts, Favre also worked to secure funds for a biotechnology start-up that he was personally invested—a successful effort that led to over $2 million from the MCEC going to the start-up and its affiliate company.
The string of damning text messages was submitted by Bryant’s attorneys who is in a legal battle with Nancy New, who ran the embattled MCEC nonprofit. Bryant has claimed he was unaware of any improper spending. New and John Davis, the former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, have both pleaded guilty to fraud charges and are reportedly now assisting prosecutors as part of their plea deals. Under New’s leadership, the MCEC reportedly directed $5 million to the construction of the Southern Miss. volleyball facility. Another $1.1 million in MCEC funds were paid to Favre for public-speaking appearances—an obligation he did not complete. (Favre has repaid the $1.1 million he received in speaking fees but reportedly still owed $228,000 in interest as of 2021.)
Thus far, Favre has faced some slight professional consequences for his part in the scandal. On Sunday, The Hollywood Reporter noted that Favre’s SiriusXM radio program was put on hold amid the scandal. The show is scheduled to air every Tuesday but has not been broadcast since September 13. Likewise, a sports talk radio show in Wisconsin, where Favre spent the majority of his professional career, announced that it was pausing his weekly appearances last week.
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