Chris Brown was publicly criticized during a recent U.S. Senate debate as lawmakers discussed extending the statute of limitations for investigating alleged fraud tied to federal COVID-19 relief programs.
During the debate, Senator Joni Ernst referenced Brown while arguing in favor of giving prosecutors more time to pursue cases involving pandemic aid misuse.
According to reports discussed during the hearing, Brown’s touring company, CBE Touring, received approximately $10 million through the federal Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program, which was created to support entertainment businesses impacted by pandemic shutdowns.
Critics of the program claim some grant recipients used portions of the funding for expenses unrelated to business recovery. Allegations raised during the Senate discussion included claims that funds connected to Brown’s company were used for luxury travel, entertainment events, and other high-cost expenditures.
However, it is important to note that Brown has not been criminally charged in connection with the grants, and no court has ruled that he personally committed fraud.
The SVOG program distributed billions of dollars to venues, promoters, and entertainment-related businesses during the pandemic. A later review by the Government Accountability Office reportedly identified billions in improper payments across the program, prompting lawmakers to seek stricter oversight and longer investigation windows.
The Senate has since passed legislation extending the time prosecutors have to pursue potential fraud cases from five years to ten years.
Several other artists and entertainment figures were also mentioned in broader public discussions surrounding pandemic relief spending, including Lil Wayne, Post Malone, Marshmello, Steve Aoki, and the rock band Alice in Chains.
To date, none of the major artists publicly named in relation to the program have been criminally charged over their grant spending.
Representatives for Chris Brown have not publicly commented on the latest criticism.
