Brett Favre responded to reports that he was involved in a widespread welfare fraud scheme in his home state of Mississippi.
Favre told Fox News Digital that he had no knowledge that any funds he requested for a volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi were being diverted from welfare causes for the state's poorest residents.
"I have been unjustly smeared in the media," Favre said in the statement. "I have done nothing wrong, and it is past time to set the record straight.
"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."
Mississippi Today reported last month that former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant helped Favre receive funding for the volleyball center. Favre's daughter was a member of the Southern Miss team at the time, and Favre played his college football at the university.
Text messages showed Nancy New -- who has already pleaded guilty to 13 felony counts of bribery, fraud and racketeering for her role -- discussing with Favre and Bryant how to divert the welfare funds for the project. New founded the Mississippi Community Education Center, which was tasked with spending millions in federal welfare funds to help the state.
"If you were to pay me is there anyway the media can find out where it came from and how much?" Favre asked New in 2017.
After telling Favre that "we never have that information publicized," she got back to him the next day.
"Wow, just got off the phone with Phil Bryant! He is on board with us! We will get this done!" New told Favre.
Bryant explained to Favre in a 2019 text that federal funds for the "low income community" was tightly controlled.
"Any improper use could result in violation of Federal Law. Auditors are currently reviewing the use of these funds," the ex-governor told Favre.
But Favre is denying that he knew the money was illegally diverted.
"State agencies provided the funds to Nancy New's charity, the Mississippi Community Education Center, which then gave the funds to the University, all with the full knowledge and approval of other State agencies, including the State-wide Institute for Higher Learning, the Governor's office and the Attorney General's office," Favre's statement said.
"I was told that the legal work to ensure that these funds could be accepted by the university was done by State attorneys and State employees."
Favre also had been paid $1.1 million from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) money to make speeches that, according to an auditor, Favre never made. Favre paid back the money, but the state filed a civil lawsuit against Favre seeking to recoup $228,000 in interest.
Favre's attorney, Eric Herschmann, told Fox News that his client was never paid for a "no-show appearance."
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