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Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
Retired NFL legend Brett Favre revealed he’s been recognized with Parkinson’s illness in a stunning handle to Congress as he testified a couple of welfare misspending scandal on Tuesday.
The previous quarterback, 54, disclosed the prognosis as he testified earlier than the Home Methods and Means Committee throughout a listening to on welfare reform. Favre, who has by no means been criminally charged, was accused in a civil lawsuit of misusing funds from Mississippi’s Momentary Help for Needy Households (TANF) program and receiving $1.1 million, which he has since returned, for motivational speeches that he by no means gave.
In an admission to the courtroom, Favre stated: “Sadly, I additionally misplaced an funding in an organization that I believed was creating a breakthrough concussion drug I assumed would assist others, and I’m certain you’ll perceive why it’s too late for me as a result of I’ve just lately been recognized with Parkinson’s.
“That is additionally a trigger expensive to my coronary heart.
“Just lately, the physician, operating the corporate pleaded responsible to taking (public) cash for his personal use.”
Favre, a former Inexperienced Bay Packers legend, didn’t reveal how lengthy he has identified of his prognosis, however Parkinson’s is a progressive mind dysfunction that causes deterioration to the nervous system and every day motion. Whereas there isn’t a treatment, signs might be handled and managed.
Signs of the illness can differ from individual to individual, however the situation is usually outlined by nervous tremors, speech issue, and muscle stiffness, based on the National Institute on Aging.
Favre was simply one among dozens of defendants within the lawsuit over the misappropriation of about $77 million in state welfare funds. The soccer icon has denied ever understanding that the cash was meant for welfare.
A Mississippi state audit confirmed that $5 million in the end went towards a volleyball facility on the College of Southern Mississippi — which Favre and his daughter attended — and one other $1.7 million went to Prevacus, the corporate he invested in because it was engaged on a “breakthrough” concussion drug.
“The challenges my household and I’ve confronted during the last three years — as a result of sure authorities officers in Mississippi failed to guard federal TANF funds from fraud and abuse, and are unjustifiably making an attempt responsible me, these challenges have damage my good title and are worse than something I confronted in soccer,” Favre stated Tuesday.