February 6th 2024.
On Monday, the state auditor of Mississippi took legal action in an attempt to have former NFL quarterback Brett Favre pay back over $700,000 that was allegedly misspent on projects supported by the retired athlete. As reported by The Huffington Post, auditor Shad White is seeking repayment from Favre as part of an ongoing legal battle over the use of state funds intended to assist residents in one of the nation's most impoverished states.
According to White, Favre received $1.1 million in speaking fees from a nonprofit organization that used welfare funds with the approval of the state's Department of Human Services. These funds were meant to go towards the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, but instead were used to build a volleyball arena at the University of Southern Mississippi, where Favre's daughter played on the team starting in 2017. In the court filing, White's attorneys stated that Favre had no legal right to this money and should be required to pay it back.
Mississippi has the lowest median household income in the country at $48,610, according to NerdWallet. Favre, who holds the record for the most interceptions thrown in an NFL career (336), has already repaid $1.1 million to the state in 2020 and 2021. However, White claims that Favre still owes an additional $729,790 in interest on the original amount.
In a statement released on Monday, White expressed his disbelief that Favre would think he was entitled to an interest-free loan of over a million dollars in taxpayer money, particularly funds intended to help those in need. This lawsuit is in response to a defamation suit that Favre filed against White, which is still ongoing. Favre has also attempted to counter these claims by suing former NFL players and current podcast hosts Shannon Sharpe and Pat McAfee for defamation, but both cases were dismissed.
The controversy surrounding the use of TANF funds in Mississippi has been ongoing for years. In 2022, the Department of Human Services filed a lawsuit alleging that millions of dollars were misspent, including $5 million for the volleyball arena and $1.7 million for a concussion treatment drug. While Favre has not faced criminal charges, a former director of the state's welfare agency and a mother and son who operated a nonprofit and an education company have pleaded guilty to misusing public funds.
This scandal has sparked outrage and calls for accountability, with the audit revealing lavish spending, including luxury cars, among the $94 million in questionable expenses. The state auditor's efforts to hold Favre accountable for his alleged involvement in this misuse of funds serve as a reminder of the importance of responsible and ethical use of public money. The original article was published by Black Enterprise.
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