By Tyler Carter
Mississippi continues to be in the national spotlight after recent allegations levied against one of the state’s native sons’ in Brett Favre.
Favre, a Kiln native has reportedly “been in bed” with the highest politicians in the State of Mississippi, such as former Gov. Phil Bryant, a fellow alumnus of the University of Mississippi, where Favre also starred as a quarterback in the 1980s.
Mississippi Today, a nonprofit news organization has chronicled alleged financial impropriety and nepotism in what is coined as the largest welfare scandal in the state’s history.
The outlet reports through their series, The Backchannel that Favre was pushing the former Governor to construct a volleyball stadium at USM where his daughter was a member of the team.
Recently, texts were uncovered showing Bryant communicating with nonprofit founder and key player Nancy New to see if there was anything they could do to assist Favre in his endeavors.
Bryant, according to the outlet, removed John Davis, former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services for suspected fraud.
Text messages also discovered by Mississippi Today showed Bryant, Favre, New, Davis and others working together to channel at least $5 million of the state’s welfare funds to build a new volleyball stadium at USM.
The funds used to steer this project were taken from TANF fund or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – monies used to help the state’s most vulnerable population.
According to State Auditor Shad White and his office, nonprofit leaders misspent $77 million earmarked for those in need.
New pleaded guilty to 13 counts of fraud, along with Davis, Mississippi Today said.
Davis recently pled guilty and was sentenced to 32 years in prison for his role in this misappropriation of funds.
While Bryant or Favre have yet to be charged in this matter, other dominoes are falling, particularly for the formed QB.
Earlier this week, SiriusXM announced Favre’s radio show would be placed on hold due to his alleged involvement in the largest case of public fraud in Mississippi’s history.
Favre, according to ESPN, has appeared on “The SiriusXM Blitz With Brett Favre and Bruce Murray” program since 2018. SiriusXM’s move comes after a spokesperson for ESPN Milwaukee told Front Office Sports last week that it was pausing Favre’s weekly appearances on the station.
As this story continues to unfold, Mississippi Today continues to unveil the depths and length Favre and others traveled to defraud people living in the country’s poorest state to enrich themselves.