Another Herschel Walker controversy: Republican Senate candidate tied to unpaid prison labor after promising to help people in prison

Former NFL star Herschel Walker faced many hits as a running back, but these days the player is facing different hits as he runs for senate in the state of Georgia. A recent news report indicated that Walker and his business partners are involved in a drug court program that utilizes unpaid prison labor. Additionally, the report details instances of mistreatment of program participants.

Walker founded Renaissance Man Food Services in 1999 to help people coming out of prison by providing training and job opportunities. He also has ties to Simmons Foods Inc., a processing company that supplies Renaissance Man Food Services.

Currently, a federal lawsuit is pending against Christian Alcoholics & Addicts in Recovery, Inc. (CAAIR) for labor law violations. CAAIR has business ties to Simmons Food and Renaissance Man Food Services, but neither Simmons nor Renaissance Man are part of the original lawsuit.

A review of several federal court cases involving Walker and his business partners reveals that they may have financially benefited from unpaid labor of people transferred from state courts to rehab programs in lieu of going straight to prison.

According to the Associated Press report:

“Some participants were allegedly pressured to work when injured, compelled to attend religious services, and threatened with imprisonment if their work was unsatisfactory.”

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Former NFL stars Herschel Walker and Brett Favre find themselves at the center of controversies

Both Herschel Walker and Brett Favre were the best at their positions in their heyday in the NFL. Walker was a star athlete at the University of Georgia, going on to excel in the NFL (after a stint in the USFL).

Favre took a bit longer as well to make his name known in the NFL after riding the bench for the Atlanta Falcons. Once he went to Green Bay, however, the gunslinger would go on to become one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.

Now both former stars are facing off-field controversies long after their playing days in the NFL are over. Herschel Walker is running for U.S. Senate in the upcoming November elections and he’s been the subject of several controversies. Incidents include paying off women for abortions and business ties with questionable practices.

Favre was recently the center of a large controversy where funds meant for welfare recipients were diverted to fund a volleyball arena at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Both men fervently deny any wrongdoing. However, although the spotlight usually dims after retirement from the NFL, Herschel Walker and Brett Favre find themselves back in it for less savory reasons.