Mississippi Welfare Scandal: Ex-NFL Star Brett Favre Still Has Not Yet Paid Back Misspent Welfare Money, Says Auditor

The Mississippi Welfare Scandal continues, as one of the biggest banes caught in the controversy. NFL great Brett Favre is found not to have yet fully paid the misspent money supposed to go to the poorest people in the poorest state in the United States.

On Monday, the State Auditor of Mississippi filed new court papers, and it renewed his call for Brett Favre to repay the state for welfare money he spent improperly on his projects, including a volleyball court for his daughter's school where she plays.

Auditor Shad White demanded that the Pro Football Hall of Fame member and Mississippi football legend pay nearly $730,000 as part of the retired athlete's long-running legal battle over the Mississippi Welfare Scandal.

The NFL great filed several lawsuits against White last year, along with two national sportscasters for allegedly defaming him in public discussions about welfare misspending. However, White revealed that the former quarterback improperly received $1.1 million in speaking fees from a nonprofit organization before spending it on various personal projects with approval from the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

Favre reportedly spent money from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to fund a volleyball arena at the University of Southern Mississippi. His daughter is part of the team, and Favre is also an alumnus of the school.

"Favre had no legal right to the possession or control of this $1.1 Million," the auditor's court filing stated. The NFL star has already repaid $500,000 to the state in May 2020 before paying back another $600,000 in October 2021/ However, the new court filing showed he was short s $729,790 because interest caused growth in the original amount he owed, according to the Associated Press.

"It boggles the mind that Mr. Favre could imagine he is entitled to the equivalent of an interest-free loan of $1.1 million in taxpayer money, especially money intended for the benefit of the poor," said the Mississippi State Auditor on Monday.

Brett Favre Received Illegal Bank Transfers Early During the Mississippi Welfare Scandal Investigation

As to why Favre must now pay even more money to the state, White argued that his office discovered "illegal" transfers to Favre during an earlier investigation before demanding the football legend pay the money. Favre reportedly admitted fault, but he also failed to pay the entire amount due.

According to the Clarion Ledger, Favre is just one of 38 defendants in the sprawling civil case filed by the Mississippi Department of Human Service. The state is looking for the return of about $77 million in misspent Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds.

Mississippi Welfare Scandal Did Bring Some Improvements

If there is a silver lining to the fact that rich people were spending money meant for poor people, it was that the Mississippi Welfare Scandal did inspire some changes.

Thanks to the scandal, the Biden administration's US Department of Health and Human Services is now trying to clarify what kinds of programs states can support with TANF funds after the money was used for a volleyball gym and a fitness program.

The notice of proposed rule changes was released last October, and it acknowledges that states have been spending federal public assistance funds "on a wide range of benefits and services, including some with tenuous connections to a TANF purpose," according to Mississippi Today.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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