JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre has asked to be excluded from a lawsuit brought by the state of Mississippi seeking to recover millions of dollars in squandered welfare funds meant for America’s poorest people.
Favre’s attorney filed the documents Monday saying the Mississippi Department of Social Services “baselessly and irresponsibly seeks to blame Favre for his grossly improper management of the Social Welfare Fund and his failures to properly monitor and audit” as used by the organizations. funds.
Favre’s attorney, Eric D. Hirschmann, said in the complaint filed in Hinds County Court: “Favre’s inclusion in the lawsuit had the intended effect — bringing the case to national press attention.”
It was not immediately clear when Hinds County Circuit Judge Faye Peterson might consider the petition.
Favre does not face criminal charges. The former player is among dozens of individuals and companies sued by the Mississippi Department of Social Services with the aim of recovering part of the money wasted in the state’s largest corruption case.
The department filed the lawsuit in May, alleging that the defendants “wasted” more than $20 million from the Anti-Poverty Program for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families.
Favre grew up in Mississippi and played for the University of Southern Mississippi before beginning his career with the Green Bay Packers, winning Super Bowl XXXI. He was traded in 2008 to the New York Jets before spending his final two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.
Favre returned the $1.1 million he earned for speaking fees at the Mississippi Community Education Center, a nonprofit group that spent money from the program with the approval of the Department of Social Services. But auditor Chad White said on Monday that Faber owed $228,000 in interest.
White’s office is investigating aid program spending. Responding to Favre’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit Monday, White told the Associated Press, “Anyone interested in the civil case is free to make whatever arguments they want and I’m not going to comment on that. The cases will continue through the judicial system and the judge will determine who has to pay.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.