A Friday ruling in Mississippi saw a judge dismissing a lawsuit targeting a non-profit news organization for its Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of a welfare fraud scandal involving former NFL star Brett Favre.
The case, brought forward nearly two years ago by former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, held significant stakes for the news outlet, Mississippi Today, and its journalist, Anna Wolfe. If the judge had ruled against them, Wolfe and the organization’s editor-in-chief, Adam Ganucheau, could have faced serious legal consequences, including contempt charges, fines, or even jail time should they refuse to disclose their confidential sources.
However, Madison County Circuit Court Judge Bradley Mills decided in favor of the journalists, dismissing Bryant’s claims. Following the decision, Mississippi Today’s lawyer, Lee Crain, described the dismissal as a victory for press freedom. Crain emphasized that Wolfe’s investigative reports were precisely the type of journalism the First Amendment aims to protect, and he stated that this ruling effectively ends what he called Governor Bryant’s unconstitutional campaign against the free press in Mississippi.
On the other hand, Billy Quinn, representing Bryant, indicated that this might not be the final chapter. He expects the case to progress to the Mississippi Supreme Court and reiterated Bryant’s confidence in his legal arguments and the righteousness of his cause.
The controversy stems from “The Backchannel,” a series published in April 2022 that exposed a $77 million welfare fraud case in Mississippi, the nation’s second-poorest state. The investigative pieces revealed that millions intended for welfare support were instead funneled into projects like a college volleyball facility and a concussion drug company, with then-Governor Bryant’s administration at the center of the scandal.
Following Anna Wolfe’s prestigious Pulitzer Prize win for these reports, Bryant shifted the narrative from poverty issues to a court battle over constitutional rights with a defamation suit. Mississippi Today emphasized that Wolfe’s stories, which relied heavily on communications involving public officials and eschewed anonymous sourcing, uncovered the full extent of Governor Bryant’s role in the scandal.
While both Bryant and Favre have claimed ignorance regarding the misappropriation of funds, Mississippi Today stood firm in response to the judge’s ruling, stating, “The reporting speaks for itself. The truth speaks for itself.”
