>>> DO YOU REMEMBER THAT STORY
FROM A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN
FORMER NFL QUARTERBACK BRETT
FAVRE WAS CAUGHT UP IN A STATE
OF MISSISSIPPI WELFARE FRAUD
THE SCANDAL?
IT INVOLVED STATE OFFICIALS
DIVERTING FUNDS MEANT FOR POOR,
MOSTLY BLACK WOMEN AND CHILDREN
ACCORDING TO STATE RECORDS.
THE SERIES RAN AND A SMALL
OUTLET CALLED MISSISSIPPI
TODAY.
WE FEATURED IT QUITE A BIT.
WE SPOKE WITH ANNA WOLFE, THE
REPORTER WHO BROKE THE STORY IN
2022.
IT WAS A REMARKABLY IMPRESSIVE
PIECE OF INVESTIGATIVE
JOURNALISM THAT WENT ON TO WIN
A PULITZER LAST YEAR.
SINCE THEN AS KEN DILANIAN
EXPLAINS, THE REPORTER HAS BEEN
EMBROILED IN A LAWSUIT THAT
MIGHT LAND HER IN JAIL.
>> THIS IS THE KIND OF
CORRUPTION THE MISSISSIPPIANS
KNOW ALL TOO WELL.
>> Reporter: ANNA WOLFE’S
REPORTING AT MISSISSIPPI TODAY
EXPOSED A HUGE SCANDAL AT THE
POOREST STATE IN AMERICA.
$77 MILLION IN WELFARE FUNDS
WENT TO MULTIPLE PET PROJECTS
INCLUDING THIS HORSE RANCH,
THIS VOLLEYBALL ARENA AND TO
SPORTS CELEBRITIES LIKE HALL OF
FAME QUARTERBACK BRETT FAVRE.
HE WAS NEVER CHARGED, BUT THE
REPORTING LED TO EIGHT CRIMINAL
INDICTMENTS AND JOURNALISM’S
BIGGEST PRIZE.
ADAM GANUCHEAU IS EDITOR OF THE
PAPER.
>> YOU CAN’T WIN THE PULITZER
WITHOUT REAL IMPACT.
>> TWO DAYS AFTER THE
ANNOUNCEMENT WE GOT THE FIRST
THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION.
>> Reporter: ARMOR MISSISSIPPI
GOVERNOR PHIL BRYANT IS SUING
THE NEWSPAPER, WOLFE, AND OTHER
STAFFERS FOR DEFAMATION.
ALLEGATIONS IN COURT DOCUMENTS
SUGGEST BRYANT WAS AMONG THOSE
WHO DIRECTED THE SPENDING, BUT
HE MAINTAINS HE DID NOTHING
ILLEGAL.
>> I DID NOTHING WRONG.
I WASN’T AWARE OF THE
WRONGDOING OF OTHERS.
>> Reporter: HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER HEARD
ABOUT THIS, TILL BRIAN’S
OVERALL ROLE IN THE SCANDAL?
>> IT IS PRETTY WELL LAID OUT.
IT DOESN’T SAY HE DID ANYTHING
ILLEGAL.
THIS IS AN AGENCY UNDER THE
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE.
HE HAS CONTROL.
HE HAS OVERSIGHT.
>> Reporter: BRYANT DIDN’T
INITIALLY SUE.
INSTEAD HE BROUGHT THE CASE
OVER HOW THE REPORTING WAS
LATER DESCRIBED, INCLUDING WHEN
THE NEWSPAPER CEO SAID BRYANT
EMBEZZLED FUNDS, WHICH WAS NOT
TRUE.
HE WAS NEVER CHARGED AND
THERE’S NO INDICATION HE’S
UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
BRIAN’S ATTORNEY SAYS THAT WAS
THE LAST STRAW.
>> HERE WE ARE, TO GIVE ONE OF
THEIR FAVORITE WORDS,
ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE
SITUATION.
WELL, THE RABBIT HAS THE GUN
NOW.
WE WILL SEE WHO IS GOING TO BE
ACCOUNTABLE.
>> THE RABBIT HAS THE GUN NOW.
THINK ABOUT THAT PHRASE.
BECAUSE THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF
MISSISSIPPI IS A PUBLIC FIGURE
SUING FOR DEFAMATION, HE MUST
SHOW THERE WAS ACTUAL MALICE,
BASICALLY A RECKLESS DISREGARD
TO THE TRUTH.
SO HE IS ASKING FOR THE PAPERS
EMAILS AND NAMES OF SOURCES.
THAT IS SOMETHING JOURNALISTS
DO NOT DIVULGE.
IF WOLFE AND HER EDITOR DO NOT
TURN OVER THEIR FILES, THEY
FACE POSSIBLE PRISON TIME.
>> Reporter: ARE YOU WILLING TO
GO TO JAIL?
>> YEAH.
>> IT’S REAL, IT IS SCARY, BUT
SOMETHING I THINK WE FEEL VERY