On Friday, Judge Bradley Mills of the Madison County Circuit Court threw out a lawsuit. This chilling lawsuit, brought by former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant against the nonprofit news organization Mississippi Today, drew national attention. The lawsuit was the result of “The Backchannel,” our five-part investigative series released in April 2022. As we reported in this series, an extraordinary welfare fraud scandal led by Bryant, former NFL quarterback Brett Favre, and other powerful state public figures was exposed.
The scandal will continue to be a source of statewide fascination. It exposed the diversion of millions of dollars intended for welfare families to initiatives including the construction of a college volleyball complex and funding for a concussion drug company. Mississippi Today reporter Anna Wolfe spearheaded that investigation. Through emails and text messages, she was able to demonstrate widespread misconduct from public officials.
Bryant’s lawsuit came almost two full years after the publication of the first installation of the series. In it, he claimed that the reporting constituted defamation. Yet, by granting Judge Mills’ ruling inadvertently shut the case down, upholding the priceless journalistic independence of Mississippi Today.
Lee Crain, the attorney representing Mississippi Today, said he was pleased with the court’s ruling.
“This ends once and for all Governor Bryant’s unconstitutional crusade against Mississippi’s free press.” – Lee Crain
The dismissal is being celebrated as a win for journalistic freedom in Mississippi. Crain added that the case highlighted the need to shield the press from intimidation tactics used by public officials. The truth speaks for itself, and the reporting speaks for itself, right there,” said Mississippi Today.
The Backchannel has been hailed with red carpet, critical acclaim. It even garnered a Pulitzer Prize for its critical reporting that delved deeply into Utah’s welfare fraud scandal. The stories highlighted not only the misappropriation of funds but uncovered the depth of Bryant’s involvement in the scandal that marred his administration.
The revelation that Favre and other influential figures scored millions of welfare dollars has raised questions about accountability and ethics in state governance. More and more has come to light from the ongoing fallout of this deepening scandal. The public still has a close eye on what it means for all players.
Leave a Reply