State Auditor Shad White’s office has counter-sued Brett Favre for hundreds of thousands of welfare dollars.
Last February, Favre sued White for defamation for statements White made describing Mississippi’s large welfare fraud scandal. White’s attorneys have filed a counter-claim this week in the same defamation suit, demanding Favre pay back Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds with interest.
“Mississippi’s Constitution and laws require that the state auditor act to protect the taxpayers and fully collect all public funds [that] Mr. Favre received from Nancy New and John Davis,” White said. “Mr. Favre’s meritless defamation suit provides the opportunity for the recovery of the principal and interest [that] Mr. Favre failed to repay,” said Auditor White.
Originally Attorney General Lynn Fitch’s office represented White in the case between Favre and White. On Jan. 5, though, the Attorney General’s Office announced they would no longer represent White in the case because White “call[ed] into question the integrity of the Attorney General” in White’s upcoming book. Since then, attorneys at the Office of the State Auditor have been handling the case.