(Patriot.Buzz) – In a shocking revelation during a congressional hearing, NFL legend Brett Favre revealed his recent Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.
The announcement came as the former quarterback spoke about being involved in a Mississippi welfare scandal.
The incident exposed the misuse of funds intended for poor people and raised questions about government oversight.
Himself a Pro Football Hall of Famer, Favre testified before a Republican-led congressional committee examining the use of state welfare funds.
Initiated by Republican Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, the hearing sought to shed light on the misappropriation of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds in Mississippi, one of America’s poorest states.
During his testimony, Favre dropped the bombshell about his health: “Sadly, I also lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others.”
Favre added, “I’m sure you’ll understand, while it’s too late for me because I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, this is also a cause dear to my heart.”
The hearing revealed that Favre had repaid over $1 million in speaking fees funded by a Mississippi welfare program.
However, he still owes nearly $730,000 in interest. The former quarterback’s involvement stems from his investment in Prevacus, a company developing a concussion drug, which misused $2 million from the TANF program.
House Republicans argue that the Mississippi welfare misspending scandal highlights a pressing need for TANF reform.
They criticized Democrats for not holding hearings on TANF or conducting proper oversight.
Republicans also suggested that such negligence allowed people to misuse funds intended to help the most vulnerable citizens.
Additionally, the hearing revealed the extent of welfare misspending in Mississippi from 2016 to 2019.
Shockingly, some TANF money was even intended for a volleyball arena at the University of Southern Mississippi, further showing the gross mismanagement of funds meant for struggling families.
Favre’s involvement in this scandal has tarnished his legacy, but his Parkinson’s diagnosis adds a layer of complexity to the public’s perception.
The 54-year-old quarterback, who spent most of his 20-year career with the Green Bay Packers, is the only player to have been named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player for three consecutive seasons (1995-1997) and led the Packers to a Super Bowl victory in 1997.
This is not the first time Favre has spoken about health issues related to his football career.
In 2013, he disclosed that he suffers from memory loss due to head injuries sustained during his playing days.
The NFL has since acknowledged the long-term effects of concussions, reaching a $1 billion settlement to compensate former players and pledging $100 million for medical and engineering research in 2016.
As the investigation into the welfare scandal continues, Favre remains a defendant in a civil lawsuit demanding repayment of misspent TANF money.
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