• Loading stock data...
Sunday, February 9, 2025
Law

Lawyers for Brett Favre to Depose Former Mississippi Governor

  • Hall of Famer’s legal team seeks to establish Phil Bryant’s culpability in the alleged welfare scheme.
  • The former quarterback was deposed for eight hours in December.
Brett Favre
Syndication: Nashville Tennessean

Attorneys for Brett Favre will depose former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant later this month, as the Hall of Fame quarterback continues his legal fight in the welfare funds lawsuit. 

Bryant isn’t a defendant in the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) civil case. But since Favre was sued along with more than 40 others in May 2022, his defense team has attempted to highlight Bryant’s alleged culpability in the scheme that led to about $7 million in federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds illegally funneled to two Favre-related projects. 

Bryant will be deposed at a law firm in Jackson, Miss., on Jan. 25, according to a court filing. Favre will depose Mississippi Auditor Shad White the following day, according to another filing. Favre sued White for defamation last February, a case that is still pending.

Favre was deposed for more than eight hours by MDHS lawyers on Dec. 11.

Nearly $2 million of TANF funds went to Prevacus, a pharmaceutical company that counted Favre as its largest investor. Another $5 million in TANF funds went to construct a volleyball arena at the University of Southern Mississippi. 

Favre has not been charged criminally and has denied any wrongdoing. The TANF funds were transferred from MDHS—the state welfare agency led by John Davis at the time—through the non-profit Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC), and then to Prevacus and the University Southern Mississippi Athletic Foundation. 

While Favre’s deposition remains under seal, one of Favre’s lawyers wrote in a Dec. 29 letter to Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Debra H. Gibbs — the judge presiding over Favre’s defamation case against White — that Favre’s deposition in the Mississippi welfare funds lawsuit and other discovery in the case “confirms that Favre had no knowledge that welfare funds were being misused or that MCEC’s funding was a sham, and that he committed no wrongdoing.”

“Indeed, discovery taken in that matter confirms that numerous government agencies, lawyers, university administrators, and former Governor Phil Bryant were aware of and approved the funding at issue, which defeats the accusation that Favre, a layperson, could have known about any alleged improprieties,” attorney Daniel R. Benson wrote in the letter.

Nancy and Zach New, who ran the MCEC, and Davis pleaded guilty to state and federal charges related to the scheme. 

“Davis and New did not [and could not have] authorized structuring the $5 million in funding [for the volleyball arena] as a sublease on their own,” Favre’s attorneys wrote in a November 2022 filing. “They needed and obtained the approval and assistance of other State officials and agencies—including Governor Bryant, the Attorney General, the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, Southern Miss itself, and the Southern Miss Athletic Foundation.”

Favre’s attorneys wrote in that filing that their client “is a private citizen with no position in government.”

The notice of deposition comes two weeks after an MCEC filing that highlighted Bryant’s alleged involvement in the scheme. 

“Based on the foregoing, as well as evidence that will be presented at trial, Bryant was involved, both directly and indirectly, in directing, approving, facilitating, and/or furthering MDHS’s use of federal grant funds for Prevacus and for construction of the USM volleyball center,” MCEC lawyers wrote in a Dec. 12 filing

MCEC lawyers claim Bryant used Favre “as intermediary” in the scheme. 

“By omitting Bryant [as a defendant] … MDHS seeks to distance itself from its 25-year course of performance in relation to TANF and other grant expenditures,” MCEC attorneys wrote. 

Editor’s note: This story was updated Jan. 4 with White’s deposition information.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

exclusive

5 Big Sound Bites From Radio Row at Super Bowl LIX

Straight shooting from Greg Olsen, Billie Jean King, and more.
Brady and Mahomes

Chiefs Fatigue Is Real. It’s Nowhere Near Patriots Hate Yet

People who have covered both teams say the difference is stark.
Donald Trump

Trump Threatens to Eliminate Tax Breaks for Sports Owners

Amortization and other strategies have saved sports owners millions.

Featured Today

Nov 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) celebrates with running back Saquon Barkley (26) after the Eagles defeat the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium.

How the Eagles Reinvented Championship Roster Construction

Philadelphia is one of the most innovative franchises in the NFL.
February 3, 2025

‘Ultimate Throwback’: The Unimpeachable Cool of Hartford Whalers Gear

Nostalgia and street cred have driven a consistent frenzy for merch.
January 20, 2024; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Kristin Juszczyk, wife of San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44), before a 2024 NFC divisional round game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium.
February 1, 2025

The New WAGs: Sports Wives Building Business Empires

Athletes’ wives and girlfriends are bucking stereotypes and cashing in.
Feb 3, 2019; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears mascot dances on the court during a stoppage in play in the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at Haas Pavilion.
January 31, 2025

The Toll of Bicoastal Travel on New ACC Members Cal and Stanford

Cal and Stanford face missed flights, chaotic sleep schedules, and academic demands.
The NCAA logo on the field in the closing second of the Anderson University inaugural football game with St. Andrew's University on Spero Financial Field at Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium at Anderson University in Anderson, S.C. Saturday, September 7, 2024. Anderson won 51-14.
February 5, 2025

Three Penn Swimmers Sue Ivy League, NCAA Over Trans Participation Policy

The lawsuit’s plaintiffs are requesting class-action status.
A Fox Sports camera records on the sideline prior to the NCAA football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
February 6, 2025

Fox Seeks Dismissal of Sex Abuse Lawsuit, While Bayless, Taylor Deny Wrongdoing

Skip Bayless and Joy Taylor deny the allegations made against them.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
New York attorney general Letitia James
February 5, 2025

NWSL to Pay Players $5 Million in Abuse Settlement

Years of abuse in the NWSL came to light in 2021.
Dec 9, 2023; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernandez (9) celebrates scoring a goal in front of Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (16) during the MLS Cup final at Lower.com Field.
February 3, 2025

NASL Loses Antitrust Lawsuit Against MLS, U.S. Soccer

The defense argued bad business moves, not a conspiracy, tanked league.
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle John Simon (54) sacks Michigan Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson (16) in the first half of their NCAA football game between Ohio State and Michigan at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, November 26, 2011. (Dispatch photo by Neal C. Lauron)
January 30, 2025

NCAA, Big Ten Seek to Dismiss Lawsuit of 300-Plus Former Michigan Football..

The former Wolverines are seeking $50 million in unpaid NIL usage.
U.S. Soccer Federation president Carlos Cordeiro (left) and Sunil Gulati (center) and MLS commissioner Don Garber (right) pose for a photo.
January 29, 2025

Billionaire Who Chaired NASL Admits He Used Burner Account to Attack MLS,..

Rocco Commisso, the Mediacom founder, compared the MLS commissioner to Harvey Weinstein.