Brett Favre was one of the biggest stars of the NFL but his sad fall from grace was a hard pill to swallow for many of his fans. On September 24, the retired football player testified in court in front of the House Ways and Means Committee regarding his alleged misappropriation of Mississippi state funds when he revealed a shocking health diagnosis, per NBC News. While pleading his innocence, he stated, “Sadly, I also lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others, and I’m sure you’ll understand why it’s too late for me because I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.” Favre continued, “This is also a cause dear to my heart. Recently, the doctor running the company pleaded guilty to taking (public) money for his own use.”
The drug in question was called Prevacus, and while it’s unclear how much of his own money Favre invested, if any at all, CBS reported in 2022 that the former Packers quarterback was caught in some shady dealings at his home. Favre reportedly had the CEO of the pharma company, Jacob VanLandingham, pitch the drug to state officials who had allegedly offered $2 million from Mississippi’s Department of Human Services.
As reported by Mississippi Today, VanLandingham has since pleaded guilty, but Favre’s case is still ongoing — and his Parkinson’s diagnosis reveal may do little to sway the public’s opinion.
Brett Favre’s Parkinson’s diagnosis didn’t help win him favors with fans
While Brett Favre’s Parkinson’s diagnosis is tragic, fans aren’t ready to look the other way from his alleged involvement in more than just the Prevacus scandal. The Hall of Famer was also in the middle of another offense in which $5 million of state welfare money was used to build a volleyball facility for the University of Southern Mississippi, where his daughter was on the team, per ESPN. Favre also received over $1 million from the funds for public appearances, which he never made.
“I’m sorry to hear that Brett Favre is suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, but please be clear that in no way should Congress use that piece of information to begin over sympathizing with him and forget the crimes he committed against the State of Mississippi and it’s taxpayers and citizens,” a user wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Another wrote, “Wouldn’t wish Parkinson’s on anyone but it is pretty convenient that @BrettFavre trots out a diagnosis in front of Congress when he might face consequences for stealing millions of dollars from the poorest people in his state.” As of now, whatever consequences Favre faces are still up in the air but he still hasn’t been criminally charged, as he has maintained his innocence throughout the scandal.
Brett Favre has yet to be criminally charged for the welfare scandal
Although eight people involved in the Mississippi welfare scandal have been indicted and Brett Favre has been questioned by the FBI, he remains uncharged as of this writing. According to Newsweek, Favre stated in 2022, “No one ever told me, and I did not know, that funds designated for welfare recipients were going to the University or me. I tried to help my alma mater USM, a public Mississippi state university, raise funds for a wellness center. My goal was and always will be to improve the athletic facilities at my university.”
According to Front Office Sports, everyone who attended the Prevacus meeting at Favre’s house has been charged, except for the former pro football player — and the five-year statute of limitations to do so is running out. Prosecutors may have to make a decision soon, but the laws can be bent in their favor. “You can probably include acts outside the five years in order to tell a coherent story. The key is that you need the last overt act within the conspiracy to have occurred within the five-year statute of limitations,” former prosecutor Jeffrey M. Chemerinsky told the publication.
Meanwhile, Favre stated during his testimony that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds need to be better protected, per the Magnolia Tribune. “We need mechanisms for oversight in TANF spending and greater clarity as to permissible uses of TANF funds. Democrats and Republicans should agree, rampant state misuse of TANF funds is hurting efforts to help vulnerable families and children,” he insisted.
