Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre revealed that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a surprising admission he made while testifying before Congress on Tuesday about allegations concerning his misuse of taxpayer funds.
Brett Favre Appeared Before Congress
Favre, who appeared before the House Ways and Means Committee, faces accusations of leveraging his political connections to redirect public money to benefit both his alma mater and himself.
“I also lost an investment in a company I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug, hoping it would help others. Unfortunately, it’s too late for me, as I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s,” Favre told lawmakers.
During his testimony on Capitol Hill, Favre emphasized his commitment to the cause, noting that the doctor leading the company he invested in had pleaded guilty to misusing public funds.
Parkinson’s is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary or uncontrollable movements. Symptoms, including tremors and challenges with balance and coordination, typically worsen over time, eventually impacting a person’s ability to walk and speak.
A study published last year in JAMA Network Open highlighted a connection between playing football and an increased risk of Parkinson’s or similar conditions. The research suggested that former football players with longer careers or higher levels of competition were more likely to develop the disease.
Hall of Famer Improperly Received TANF Funds
Favre, now 54, spent 20 seasons in the NFL and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016. He was in Washington to address questions about his involvement in the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
The Hall of Famer was found by a state auditor to have improperly received TANF funds for speaking engagements he never attended. Additionally, Favre was accused of using his relationship with former Governor Phil Bryant to secure TANF money for a new volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi, where his daughter played.
Though Favre has not faced criminal charges, he has begun repaying some of the funds.
In his testimony, Favre maintained that he was unaware the money for the speaking engagements and volleyball project came from taxpayer funds.
However, U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., expressed her dissatisfaction with Favre’s statements, urging her Republican colleagues to join Democrats in passing reforms to the TANF program to prevent wealthy individuals like Favre from exploiting resources meant for the most vulnerable.
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