Text messages reveal new details on Brett Favre welfare scandal

Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre found himself at the center of a Mississippi welfare fund scandal investigation, and reports have surfaced suggesting he might have known more than he initially told authorities. According to a report by Mississippi Today, a series of text messages could contradict his claim that he had no knowledge of the roughly $1 million in funds he received.

The welfare funds which were sent to the Favre family were meant to help families in need across the state of Mississippi.

According to the report, new evidence submitted on Sept. 12 includes an exchange between Favre and then-Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant. Other messages from Bryant went to nonprofit group founder Nancy New, who recently plead to 13 felony counts relating to the same scandal.

“Just left Brett Favre,” Bryant texted New on July 16, 2019. “Can we help him with his project. We should meet soon to see how I can make sure we keep your projects on course.”

The project in question was a proposal made to build a new volleyball stadium at Southern Miss. The facility would help boost the profile of Favre’s alma mater and the program his daughter played in.

Following former welfare agency director John Davis’ departure as suspicion of the fraud grew, Favre also texted Bryant asking whether the news impacted the plans for the project.

“I will handle that… long story but had to make a change,” Bryant’s responded. “But I will call Nancy and see what it will take.”

More on Brett Favre investigation

The new details about Brett Favre’s potential knowledge of the welfare fraud come after he was questioned by the FBI and repaid the $1.1 million that was given for motivational speeches which he never made. He still owes $228,000 in interest and could face a Mississippi court if he does not pay the debt in full.

In total the fraud carried out across Mississippi totaled $77 million which was taken from the Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families fund. Allegedly, another $5 million of the money went to the volleyball stadium project discussed in the text messages.