Brett Favre Responds on Twitter After Paying Mississippi Boatload of Money Over Welfare Fraud Scandal
By Jerry Trotta
NFL fans were left stunned on Tuesday after Brett Favre was named in a welfare fraud scheme in his native Mississippi, where he was paid over $1 million for speaking engagements that he never attended.
In light of the damning allegations, Favre responsibly committed to repaying the federal welfare funds. He already forked over $500,000 and will pay the remaining $600,000 over the next few months.
The Hall of Fame quarterback took to Twitter on Wednesday after attempting to clear his name from the embezzlement scandal.
1/4 My agent is often approached by different products and brands for me to appear in one way or another. This request was no different, and I did numerous ads for Families First.
— Brett Favre (@BrettFavre) May 7, 2020
This was the first of a string of posts by Favre, who is clearly trying to articulate that he was blindsided by the allegations.
3/4 I have spent my entire career helping children through Favre 4 Hope donating nearly $10 million to underserved and underprivileged children in Mississippi and Wisconsin.
— Brett Favre (@BrettFavre) May 7, 2020
Per Mississippi state auditor Shad White, there were no reports indicating that the three-time MVP knew that the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families was the source of the money from which he was compensated.
The $1.1 million sum that Favre will restore will go back to the Department of Human Services.
4/4 It has brought a ton of joy to my life, and I would certainly never do anything to take away from the children I have fought to help! I love Mississippi and I would never knowingly do anything to take away from those that need it most.
— Brett Favre (@BrettFavre) May 7, 2020
Favre wasn't charged with any wrongdoing, but he is far from out of the doghouse. There's just something incredibly fishy about the Green Bay Packers legend accepting money for events he never attended. He is vehemently denying any involvement, so perhaps it's right to give him the benefit of the doubt.