Gag Order Could Complicate Brett Favre’s Congressional Testimony on Welfare Scandal

Brett Favre is headed to Washington.

The Hall of Fame quarterback is scheduled to testify before a congressional committee next week in a hearing on “states’ misuse of welfare funds.” 

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program that was the source of millions of misspent funds that allegedly went to Favre and dozens of others in a sprawling Mississippi scandal that is still being investigated by federal prosecutors. 

Earlier this week, the GOP-led Ways and Means Committee scheduled a Tuesday hearing that will explore TANF reforms. While the witness list has not been made public, a source with knowledge of the situation told Front Office Sports confirmed Favre was invited to testify.

The venue for Favre’s testimony hasn’t been determined yet, according to the same source. Favre finds himself under a gag order as one of more than 40 defendants in a civil case filed by the Mississippi Department of Human Services. That gag order—which Favre has sought to get lifted—could potentially limit what he could testify to in public. 

Favre could give his testimony in private to members of the Ways and Means Committee, potentially under a subpoena, that would allow him to speak about his involvement in the largest public corruption scandal in Mississippi history. That testimony would remain confidential, although a transcript of the testimony could be released by the committee at a later date. 

Punchbowl News was the first outlet to report Favre’s invitation to testify in front of the committee.  

Favre has denied any wrongdoing for his alleged role in the Mississippi welfare scandal that saw more than $90 million in TANF funds improperly diverted from the poorest families in the state. About $8 million of that money is connected to Favre, who eventually diverted it to a volleyball arena at his alma mater and a drug company run by a close associate. Favre has denied knowing that the money came from TANF.

Favre received $1.1 million as part of an alleged scheme in which TANF money was funneled through an educational nonprofit for speeches and appearances. Favre has since repaid the principal, although Mississippi State Auditor Shad White has filed a lawsuit seeking more than $700,000 in interest.

According to text messages, Favre lobbied for the construction of a volleyball arena at the University of Southern Mississippi, where his youngest daughter played the sport at time. The USM Athletic Foundation received $5 million in TANF funds that covered almost the entire cost for the arena that former University of Southern Mississippi president Rodney Bennett said Favre agreed to fund. Favre has denied there was a handshake agreement to pay the entire cost for construction. 

Another $2 million in TANF funds went to Prevacus, a pharmaceutical company that was developing two concussion-related drugs. Favre was the lead spokesperson for Prevacus and was its largest individual investor, according to court documents. 

Favre has not been criminally charged, although seven individuals involved in the scheme have been indicted by federal prosecutors. That latest was Prevacus founder Jake VanLandingham, who pleaded guilty in July to a single count of wire fraud as part of a deal worked out with federal prosecutors.