Attorneys for former NFL star Brett Favre filed courtroom papers in Mississippi on Monday searching for to dismiss a civil lawsuit in opposition to him tied to a state welfare fraud scandal.
Favre was sued in Could by the state welfare company after he acquired $1.1 million in federal welfare funds supposed to carry youngsters out of poverty within the poorest state in America.
As an alternative of serving to households, the state says, Favre was paid to “communicate at three completely different public occasions and one keynote deal with.” However it says no speeches ever occurred.
Favre’s attorneys say that he and his group, Favre Enterprises LLC, repaid the funds and that Mississippi officers are accountable for the misspending.
“Mr. Favre by no means had any management over how Mississippi spent its welfare funds. He by no means made any misrepresentations to anybody,” Eric Herschmann, one of many attorneys, mentioned in an announcement, including that the soccer star by no means knew the cash was for the welfare program. “We consider that after the courtroom critiques our movement, this case shall be dismissed.”
Favre paid again the $1.1 million in late 2021, however Mississippi State Auditor Shad White maintains that he nonetheless owes $228,000 in curiosity that accrued through the time that he had the funds.
“It is ludicrous to say Mr. Favre has been singled out in any means,” Logan Reeves, a spokesperson for the state auditor’s workplace, mentioned in an announcement. “So far as our workplace is anxious, Mr. Favre stays accountable for $228,000 in curiosity for nonperformance of the contract in query.”
Along with the $1.1 million, Favre additionally lobbied state officers to spend $5 million in taxpayer funds to pay for the development of a volleyball facility on the College of Southern Mississippi the place his daughter performed the game.
He additionally texted then-Gov. Phil Bryant to push for state cash to be invested in a Florida-based experimental drug firm the place Favre was the only largest impartial investor, in accordance with the state.
The drug firm joined forces with Favre to advertise a nasal spray to deal with concussions. That drug, Prevasol, has handed a primary spherical of medical trial testing for security however has to this point not been proven to be efficient in reversing the consequences of concussions in people.
Six folks have been charged in what state and federal officers name an enormous fraud scheme to misspend state welfare funds, together with the previous director of the state welfare company, who’s cooperating with the FBI and federal prosecutors.
5 of the six have pleaded responsible. The sixth particular person was referred to a program that provides the chance to keep away from felony prosecution.
Favre has not been charged, and there’s no indication he’s a topic of the investigation.
