Former MS gov. ordered $1.1 million payment of welfare funds to Brett Farve, court docs reveal

Former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (R) reportedly had a hand in former NFL star Brett Favre receiving $1.1 million in welfare funding, according to a new court filing.

Mississippi Today reports that the latest testimony was provided by a woman named Nancy New. According to New, Bryant "instructed his wife’s friend — whose nonprofit was receiving millions in subgrants from the welfare department he oversaw — to pay" Farve the seven-figure amount. New, a former friend of Bryant's wife, also insisted that he "directed this and other spending, resulting in a massive scandal and what officials have called the largest public embezzlement scheme in state history."

New's testimony comes amid the civil lawsuit she is facing from the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The state department is demanding that she repay approximately $19.4 million. Per the report, the department is accusing New and more than three dozen defends, including the former NFL quarterback, of violating federal laws when they "spent or received money from a federal block grant called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families."

READ MORE: Republican-led Mississippi welfare fund paid former NFL star Brett Favre $1.1 million for speeches he never gave

Despite the allegations, Bryant has not been directly connected to the case or come close to being held liable for any of what has occurred — until now. New's testimony serves as the first instance where he has been publicly accused by a key defendant included in the case.

“Defendant reasonably relied on then-Governor Phil Bryant, acting within his broad statutory authority as chief executive of the State, including authority over MDHS and TANF, and his extensive knowledge of Permissible TANF Expenditures from 12 years as State Auditor, four years as Lieutenant Governor, and a number of years as Governor leading up to and including the relevant time period,” the news outlet said in response to the civil complaint filed earlier this week.

However, Bryant's spokesperson Denton Gibbes has denied the allegations. “She’s pointing her finger at everybody but the Easter Bunny,” Gibbes told the news outlet. “This is just legal hogwash.”