Judge Dismisses Defamation Lawsuit Against Pulitzer-Winning News Outlet in Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss. — A Mississippi judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by former Governor Phil Bryant against the nonprofit news outlet Mississippi Today, which reported on a $77 million welfare fraud scandal involving Bryant and NFL legend Brett Favre. The ruling, made by Madison County Circuit Court Judge Bradley Mills on Friday, upholds the press’s right to report on matters of public interest.

The suit was initiated in April 2023, shortly after Mississippi Today journalist Anna Wolfe’s series, titled “The Backchannel,” won a Pulitzer Prize. The series detailed how funds intended for low-income families were misallocated, uncovering significant implications tied to Favre and the former governor. Bryant’s lawsuit sought damages on the grounds of defamation, arguing that public comments made by the news outlet regarding the investigation harmed his reputation.

“This ruling ends once and for all Governor Bryant’s unconstitutional crusade against Mississippi’s free press,” said Lee Crain, attorney for Mississippi Today, in a statement. Crain described the allegations in the lawsuit as baseless and emphasized the importance of safeguarding journalistic integrity.

Attorneys for Bryant asserted that comments made by Mississippi Today during public forums, although stemming from Wolfe’s reporting, constituted slander that affected his public image. However, the court found that the claims lacked merit and did not meet the required legal standards for defamation, which include proving “actual malice” — knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth.

Dismissing the lawsuit, Mills noted that the First Amendment protects the outlet’s right to report on the realities of the welfare scandal. “The reporting speaks for itself. The truth speaks for itself,” Mississippi Today stated following the verdict.

Billy Quinn, an attorney for Bryant, expressed intentions to appeal the ruling, stating, “This matter is far from over. Governor Bryant remains confident in the legal basis and righteousness of his case.”

The controversy stems from a broader scandal involving the Mississippi Department of Human Services and misappropriation of federal welfare funds under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The reports revealed that a significant portion of funding was diverted to projects benefiting the affluent, including a $5 million volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi, where Favre’s daughter competed. Both Bryant and Favre have maintained that they were unaware the funds were earmarked for welfare families.

The fraud scandal has attracted national scrutiny and ignited discussions surrounding accountability in government, prompting the state to pursue legal remedies against several defendants involved in the misuse of welfare funds. Mississippi’s Auditor Shad White previously announced criminal charges against six individuals linked to the case, including a former DHS executive director.

While no charges have been filed against Bryant or Favre, the lawsuit against Mississippi Today highlights ongoing tensions between public figures and the media, as well as the critical role of journalism in uncovering the truth in times of scandal.