Text messages which had never been revealed until this week, have been disclosed by Mississippi State Auditor Shad White and suggest former NFL quarterback Brett Favre knew full well he was getting misappropriated welfare sums from the state.
The accusations pertaining to Favre have been in the news for several months now. The erstwhile NFL star is said to have received millions from a federal program designed with the aim of helping poor families.
Favre allegedly used the money to help with the construction of a volleyball stadium and a football facility at Southern Mississippi University, where his daughter attended, as well as fund new, ineffective concussion drugs. He also received payments for public appearances he reportedly never made.
A text to former executive director of the nonprofit Mississippi Community Center Nancy New, released in a new legal filing, shows Favre asking for secrecy.
It reads: “Will the public perception be that I became a spokesperson for various state funded shelters, schools, homes, etc. … and was compensated with state money? Or can we keep this confidential.”
New pled guilty to federal and state bribery and government fraud last April.
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A text from January 2019 shows the former QB suggesting they could surprise the former head of the Mississippi Department of Human Services John Davis with a new vehicle.
“Surprise him with a vehicle. … We could get him a Raptor,” it reads.
Davis has also pled guilty to various crimes, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to commit theft.
“I believe if it’s possible she and John Davis would use federal grant money for Prevacus,” Favre is shown to have written in another text to Jake Vanlandingham, the president of Prevacus.
The latter created concussion drugs that never made it to the market.
“Favre knew that grant funds could not be used for brick and mortar construction, but he sought to secretly obtain these funds for that purpose anyway,” said legal filing states.
White, who is being sued for defamation, also tweeted the following: “Bear in mind, this is the guy suing me for defamation for having the temerity to tell taxpayers the truth: that Favre knew he was being paid in public funds and he knows this was a sham.”
A spokesman for Favre has since responded to the claims in an email.
“Brett Favre has spent his life helping the citizens of Mississippi,” it reads. “Shad White should learn from Brett. Shad needs to stop attacking Brett to try to further his political career and instead focus on doing his job. We look forward to winning this defamation case.”
Analysts Shannon Sharpe and Pat McAfee have also been sued for defamation by Favre. It will be interesting to see how this new information plays into their cases.
