NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre appeared before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday and announced that he was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Favre was invited to attend the hearing to explore possible reforms to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, as he is among defendants in a civil lawsuit related to misspent TANF funds. The lawsuit, filed by the Mississippi Department of Human Services in 2022, alleges that Favre did not fulfill payment obligations related to $1.1 million in funds from a nonprofit that spent TANF funds. The former quarterback has repaid the funds but is accused of owing interest on them.
Favre, as well as others involved in the scandal such as the New family who operated the nonprofit, have cooperated with authorities. Over $77 million in TANF spending between 2016 and 2019 has been called into question, leading State Auditor Shad White to refer to it as the largest public fraud scheme in Mississippi’s history. Favre, in his testimony, expressed dismay over the situation and advocated for TANF reform to ensure proper oversight of funds and prevent such misuse in the future. He also criticized State Auditor White for tarnishing his reputation. White has released a book on the scandal and faces a defamation lawsuit from Favre.
Other speakers at the hearing highlighted the lack of progress in addressing TANF issues in Mississippi and the need for more stringent monitoring of fund usage to help those in need and protect taxpayers. Favre’s plea for reform echoed throughout the hearing, emphasizing the importance of preventing similar situations from occurring in the future.
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