During his Mississippi Social Fund scandal, Brett Favre pleaded innocence or, at worst, ignorance.
No, he didn’t just take the $1.1 million and run away, he actually took ads for the nonprofit involved. No, he had no idea the money came from a program designed to help families in need. No, he actually paid the money back (without interest).
A new report from Mississippi Today, released Tuesday, includes lyrics that may put a pretty big hole in those denials, while also explaining why a man who earned about $138 million in salary from his NFL career was paid, would receive a seven-figure payout from a social fund.
It was all supposed to be for a volleyball stadium.
Texts are reported to show how Brett Favre coordinates social services for the volleyball stadium
A series of text messages received Monday in Mississippi state’s civil lawsuit over the welfare scandal reportedly shows then-Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant looking at ways to find help for the Green Bay Packers.
Favre had reportedly sought financial support to build a new, state-of-the-art volleyball stadium at his alma mater in Southern Miss, where his daughter played volleyball.
The lyrics reportedly show Bryant guiding Favre in writing a funding proposal that is accepted by the Mississippi Department of Human Service and coordinating with Nancy New, who has since pleaded guilty to a number of state and federal charges related to the program .
From Mississippi today:
“Just left Brett Favre,” Bryant texted Nancy New, founder of the nonprofit, in July 2019, within weeks of Davis’ departure. “Can we help him with his project? We should meet soon to see how I can ensure we keep your projects on track.”
When Favre Bryant asked how the new agency director might affect their volleyball stadium funding plans, Bryant assured him, “I’ll look into it… long story but I had to make a change. But I’ll call Nancy and see what it takes,” read the filing and a text Favre forwarded to New.
The lyrics were reportedly filed by an attorney representing New, a friend of Bryant’s wife, in the civil suit against her. The scandal, which has publicly plagued Favre since May 2020, revolves around how some $77 million in funds from the Federal Bridging Aid for Needy Families (which aims to do exactly what its name suggests) got into the hands of, among others Favre, professional wrestler, personal trainer for legislators and above all a volleyball stadium.
Much of that money reportedly flowed through New’s Mississippi Community Education Center, and one of his biggest projects was reportedly channeling $5 million into Southern Miss Volleyball Stadium.
Even the $1.1 million Favre personally received for taping some ads was reportedly a plan to funnel more money into the volleyball stadium. As one text conversation reveals, Favre wasn’t thrilled with the story of where he got the money that was supposed to be leaked:
Favre: If you paid me, can the media still find out where it came from and how much?
New: No, we have never published this information. But I understand that you are uncomfortable with this. Let’s see what happens Monday with the conversation with some people from Southern [Miss]. Maybe it will click with them. Hopefully.
New: Wow, just got off the phone with Phil Bryant! He’s on board with us! We make it!
Favre: Great, I had to hear that
The payments to Favre and the volleyball stadium would eventually be revealed by Mississippi State Examiner Shad White.
Favre and Bryant have denied pretty much all wrongdoing while this case unfolded, so those lyrics need to be explained. Bryant responded to Mississippi Today with a statement that did not address the content of the texts but chastised New’s team for not complying with a protective order.
Per Mississippi Today, federal regulations prohibit states from using TANF funds for “bricks and mortar,” which New and her son appear to have circumvented by disguising the project as a lease, which involves the Southern Miss Athletic Foundation.
The Mississippi Today story provides several more details about Bryant’s involvement in the alleged plan, including apparent plans to name the stadium after him and how the planners intended to present the stadium as a “spa” to show the nonprofit’s involvement justify.
Brett Favre praised volleyball fund raising
The lion’s share of the funding for Southern Miss Volleyball Stadium reportedly came from TANF through the Mississippi Community Education Center and Favre himself. The Pro Football Hall of Famer failed to mention this when discussing the story before the scandal was uncovered.
From the Associated Press in January 2020:
Southern Miss remains close to Favre’s heart. He and his wife Deanna, who have the Favre4Hope Foundation, recently raised funds to build a volleyball center at the school. Favre’s daughter Breleigh has played the sport there.
“We wanted to do something for a high school and [Southern Miss],” he says. “We built one at Oak Grove High School [in Hattiesburg, where Favre has done some football coaching]. And for Southern Miss, that was difficult — it’s hard to get people to donate to volleyball. But we’re going to open an $8 million facility that’s going to be as good as any in the country in southern Mississippi.
Favre has since been questioned by the FBI about the alleged plan.
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