The story behind the unprecedented welfare fraud in Mississippi during Governor Phil Bryant's tenure from 2012 to 2020 shocked the nation with its brazen misuse of funds intended to help low-income families in the state. Broken by Mississippi Today, a tiny non-profit news outlet, the series of articles called "The Backchannel" earned reporter Anna Wolf a Pulitzer Prize, journalism's most revered honor. It also earned the wrath of former Gov. Bryant.
In July 2023, Bryant sued Mississippi Today and its owner for three counts of defamation. He also demanded the outlet reveal its sources, raising questions about the sanctity of reporter's privilege. On April 4, 2025, Madison County Circuit Court Judge Bradley Mills dismissed Bryant's suit with prejudice.
The reporting of Wolf and Mississippi Today uncovered a sordid tale of greed and entitlement that included former NFL quarterback Brett Favre, former professional wrestler Ted DiBiase, Jr., and a neurosurgeon who claimed he'd found a way to treat concussions. With several guilty pleas, pending lawsuits, and the federal government demanding repayment for $101 million of misspent funds, the story isn't quite done yet.
Knowing Is Half the Battle
As uncovered by Wolf and Mississippi Today, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were given to the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS). These were intended for families and organizations facing economic difficulties, but instead, it's estimated that $77 million was diverted elsewhere.
The most infamous of the misallocation of funds is likely the $5 million that went to Brett Favre's project to get a volleyball stadium built at the University of Southern Mississippi, where his daughter was a member of the team. Texts between Bryant and Favre show the former Governor teaching Favre how to craft his application to the MDHS and working with Nancy New, the head of a nonprofit, to channel the needed funds.
New later pleaded guilty to 13 felony charges. Neither Bryant nor Favre were criminally charged despite rumors that the federal government was considering Bryant in 2024. Favre is named as a defendant in multiple civil suits.
Favre was also responsible for putting Bryant together with Jake VanLandingham, a Florida neurosurgeon and owner of Prevacus, a company developing concussion treatments. Favre was an early investor, and Prevacus received $1.7 million in welfare funds from the Mississippi Community Education Center. VanLandingham pleaded guilty to a single count of wire fraud.
Texts show that Bryant intended to become involved with Prevacus after he left office, but he had to scuttle the plans after the arrest in 2020 of MDHS director John Davis (appointed by Bryant), New, and others.
Texts Don't Lie
Bryant's lawsuit didn't address the allegations made in the Backchannel articles that he used his office to facilitate the misuse of welfare funds. It claimed defamation for the wording used to announce the winning of the Pulitzer Prize by Mississippi Today owner Margaret White and comments made by Wolf and editor-in-chief Adam Ganucheau in separate radio and podcast interviews. Mississippi Today issued apologies for those instances.
In its defense, Mississippi Today noted that Bryant had failed to show that any of the claims made in the Backchannel articles were false, undermining one of the pillars of a defamation claim. This, they assert, was because they reported the truth.
Judge Mills agreed with Mississippi Today. His decision was hailed by many in the media as an important vindication of reporter's privilege, the protected status of confidential sources, and freedom of the press rights under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The dismissal of the case rendered the motion to turn over confidential documents moot.
Bryant's attorney indicated an appeal is likely. If so, the reporter's privilege may find itself under assault again.
Related Resources
- Freedom of the Press (FindLaw's First Amendment Center)
- Defamation, Libel, and Slander (FindLaw's Torts and Personal Injury Law)
- Embezzlement (FindLaw's Criminal Charges)
