Mississippi State Auditor Shad White has escalated the legal battle with retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre, filing a counterclaim demanding nearly $729,000 in interest. This development is tied to over $1.1 million in state welfare funds initially given to Favre for speaking engagements he allegedly did not fulfill. The funds are part of a larger scandal involving the alleged misuse of welfare money on projects benefiting wealthy individuals, including Favre.
Key Details of the Counterclaim Against Favre
According to the filing by White’s office on Monday, Favre, despite repaying the initial $1.1 million in 2020 and 2021, still owes significant statutory interest. The state auditor is seeking $437,000 in interest accrued before the first repayment and an additional $292,790 since then, totaling approximately $729,000.
White asserts in the legal document that Favre “did not have a legal right to the possession or control” of the $1.1 million in welfare funds. Furthermore, the counterclaim suggests that information obtained after May 2020 indicates Favre’s entanglement in the Mississippi welfare scandal is “much more extensive than previously believed,” hinting at potentially deeper involvement than initially understood.
This counterclaim is a direct response to a defamation lawsuit Favre launched against White last year. Favre’s lawsuit accuses the state auditor of damaging his reputation through public statements regarding Favre’s connection to the $1.1 million in welfare funds.
To date, Brett Favre has consistently denied any wrongdoing in this matter and has not been criminally charged in connection with the welfare fraud allegations. Requests for comment from Favre’s legal representatives have not been immediately addressed.
The Broader Mississippi Welfare Funds Scandal
The case against Favre is set against the backdrop of a much larger scandal in Mississippi, where state officials report that approximately $77 million in federal welfare funds intended for the state’s most vulnerable, low-income residents were allegedly misdirected. These funds were reportedly channeled into various projects largely benefiting affluent individuals and organizations.
Investigations reveal a complex scheme where federal grant money was allegedly funneled from the state government to a private non-profit organization. This non-profit then purportedly distributed the funds through a series of questionable contracts. Several public officials and leaders of non-profit organizations have already faced charges in connection with this widespread fraud.
Notably, a pharmaceutical company with ties to Favre, focused on concussion treatments, is alleged to have received $2.15 million in state welfare funds. Mississippi Today has also reported accusations that Favre actively sought to direct welfare funds towards the construction of a volleyball facility at his alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi – a university where his daughter was a volleyball player at the time.
In previous public statements, including a 2022 interview with Fox News, Favre addressed the $1.1 million in question. He claimed he was unaware the funds originated from welfare programs, stating that he was never informed the money was designated as welfare funds, either for his speaking services or for projects at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Related Defamation Lawsuits and Legal Actions
In addition to his lawsuit against State Auditor Shad White, Favre initiated defamation lawsuits against former NFL players and media personalities Shannon Sharpe and Pat McAfee regarding their commentary on his involvement with the welfare funds scandal.
Favre’s lawsuit against McAfee was dropped after McAfee issued a public apology for stating that Favre was “stealing from poor people in Mississippi.” However, the defamation case against Shannon Sharpe was dismissed by a judge in November of last year.
Further Reading on the Brett Favre Welfare Funds Case:
- Brett Favre Claims He’s Been ‘Unjustly Smeared’ Over Alleged Welfare Scam (Forbes)
- Brett Favre Scandal: Alleged $8 Million Welfare Scam, Explained (Forbes)
