Phil Bryant
This Sept. 16, 2022 file photo shows the Wellness Center at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss. In a court filing on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, the Mississippi Department of Human Services demanded that retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre and the University of Southern Mississippi repay millions of dollars of welfare money that went toward building the volleyball facility. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Mississippi revises demands on Favre in welfare lawsuit

By Emily Wagster Pettus Dec. 05, 2022 01:31 PM EST

FILE - Former NFL football quarterback Brett Favre speaks with reporters prior to his induction to the Mississippi Hall of Fame in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 1, 2015. Favre is asking to be removed from a civil lawsuit in Mississippi that seeks to recover millions of dollars in misspent welfare money that was intended to help some of the poorest people in the U.S. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Favre asks to be dismissed from Mississippi welfare lawsuit

By Emily Wagster Pettus Nov. 28, 2022 07:09 PM EST

FILE - Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre speaks with reporters prior to his induction to the Mississippi Hall of Fame in Jackson, Miss., Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015. Mississippi's largest public corruption case in state history, in which tens of millions of dollars earmarked for needy families was misspent, involves a number of sports figures with ties to the state — including NFL royalty Brett Favre and a famous former pro wrestler. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Brett Favre says he's 'unjustly smeared' in welfare case

By Emily Wagster Pettus Oct. 11, 2022 04:03 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 27, 2010, file photo, WWE Superstar Ted DiBiase Jr., left, with brother Brett DiBiase, right, induct their father "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase into the 2010 WWE Hall of Fame at the Ceremony in Phoenix, Ariz. Mississippi’s largest public corruption case in state history involves tens of millions of misspent dollars earmarked for needy families. The civil lawsuit involves a number of sports figures with ties to the state, including Ted DiBiase and sons Teddy and Brett. (Rick Scuteri/AP Images for WWE, File)
EXPLAINER: Favre, other sports figures in welfare fraud case

By Erica Hunzinger Oct. 03, 2022 02:10 PM EDT

FILE - Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre speaks to the media in Jackson, Miss., Oct. 17, 2018. The governor of Mississippi in 2017 was “on board” with a plan for a nonprofit group to pay Brett Favre more than $1 million in welfare grant money so the retired NFL quarterback could help fund a university volleyball facility, according to a text messages between Favre and the director of the nonprofit in court documents filed Monday, Sept. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Texts: Favre also sought welfare money for football facility

By Emily Wagster Pettus Sep. 25, 2022 04:55 PM EDT

FILE - Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre speaks to the media in Jackson, Miss., Oct. 17, 2018. The governor of Mississippi in 2017 was “on board” with a plan for a nonprofit group to pay Brett Favre more than $1 million in welfare grant money so the retired NFL quarterback could help fund a university volleyball facility, according to a text messages between Favre and the director of the nonprofit in court documents filed Monday, Sept. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Texts: Mississippi ex-governor knew of Favre welfare money

By Emily Wagster Pettus Sep. 14, 2022 12:30 PM EDT

FILE - Gov. Phil Bryant speaks about his legacy following a life of public service in his office at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., on Jan. 8, 2020. A defendant in a Mississippi welfare fraud case said in a court document she directed $1.1 million in welfare money to former NFL star Brett Favre at the direction of Bryant. Mississippi news outlets report that the accusation, which Bryant denies, is in a filing on behalf of defendant Nancy New, who, with her son, once ran a nonprofit group and an education company in Mississippi. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Defendant: Ex-governor ordered payments to NFL's Brett Favre

Jul. 13, 2022 07:20 PM EDT

Nancy New, who with her son, Zachary, ran a private education company in Mississippi, pleaded guilty to state charges of misusing public money that was intended to help some of the poorest people in the nation, in Hinds County Circuit Court, Tuesday, April 26, 2022, in Jackson. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Mississippi sues Favre, wrestlers, over welfare misspending

By Emily Wagster Pettus May. 09, 2022 06:19 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2018, file photo, former NFL quarterback Brett Favre speaks with reporters in Jackson, Miss., about his support for Willowood Developmental Center, a facility that provides training and assistance for special needs students, The Mississippi state auditor said Wednesday, May 6, 2020, that Favre is repaying $1.1 million he received for multiple speaking engagements where auditor’s staffers said Favre did not show up. An audit of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, released May 4, said a nonprofit group used welfare money to pay Favre for $500,000 in December 2017 and $600,000 in June 2018. Favre is not charged with any wrongdoing. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Favre repaying $1.1 M for no-show speeches, auditor says

By Emily Wagster Pettus May. 06, 2020 06:20 PM EDT