Agency says it did not fire Piggot
The Mississippi Department of Human Services issued the following statement.
Approximately a year ago, MDHS entered into a contract with attorney Brad Pigott to represent the agency in its efforts to recover millions of dollars in TANF funds. The initial contract with Pigott was for a one-year term, which is set to expire on July 30, 2022.
“Pigott was retained because of his extensive experience in handling False Claims Act and related fraud matters. He and I were former colleagues in the United States Attorney’s Office and we litigated cases together in which we recovered millions of dollars for the taxpayers. That is what we expect to do in this litigation,” explained Robert G. “Bob” Anderson, Executive Director at MDHS.
Over the course of the past year, Pigott drafted the initial complaint and made a solid start at moving the litigation along. However, on at least one occasion, Pigott made decisions about the litigation and filed pleadings without any prior dialogue with officials at MDHS.
“Although USM Athletic Foundation is not yet a party in this case, Brad Pigott issued an extensive subpoena to that entity without any prior discussion of the matter with MDHS. Attorneys represent clients, and MDHS is the client in this case. I hope I don’t need to explain that an attorney needs to remain in close communication with his client at all times. Any review of complaints filed with the Mississippi Bar will reveal that communication – or lack thereof – is at the center of many of those complaints,” Anderson said. “When it becomes apparent that the client and the lawyer are not on the same page, the client has every right to find another attorney.”
While MDHS had been considering entering into another contract for Pigott to continue to represent MDHS, Pigott was notified on Friday that MDHS would simply allow his current contract to expire and would not be entering into another contract. “Mr. Pigott was advised that he should wrap up his work by the end of the month and submit a final invoice on his current contract.”
During the initial stages of the litigation, Pigott a semi-retired solo practitioner, was able to adequately represent the department. However, as litigation progresses, in order to vigorously pursue this litigation, a full service law firm must be retained.
MDHS will be retaining another attorney or another law firm to continue with this important TANF litigation. The change in attorneys does not indicate any change in the commitment of MDHS to recover these TANF funds for taxpayers. “We will be consulting with the Attorney General, who must approve our choice of outside counsel, and we hope to get a new attorney in place soon,” Anderson concluded.
This will be our only statement at this time. We will back in the office on Monday.
State Auditor Shad White tweeted the following statement:
I hope Pigott’s firing doesn’t delay the recovery of the millions of misspent welfare money that we identified in our audits. I do not have the authority to prosecute or litigate my team’s cases, so having good attorneys represent the interests of the taxpayers is important.
69 comments:
Bullshit!
C'mon. Is this supposed to help? Pigott's subpoenas to USM regarding money it solicited/received are clearly relevant and pertinent. Someone over Bob's head didn't like it because a FULL investigation isn't what they want. So Bob was made to fire Brad. Some firm will make a shitload more than $75k/year on this and will avoid the traps with pleasure.
Yay Mississippi! We'll pay a lot more to get a lot less!
Bob's a good man. I suspect he'll bail from this before too long.
Ganucheau doesn't realize he is only confirming the Barksdalers have lost the insider who was feeding them information.
Butler Snow will be hired in 3, 2, 1……
The Republican Party has no moral code. Glad I left the party. I lose respect for my friends who know what's going on and turn a blind eye because they think the Dems have a monopoly on bad acts.
I just read on ZeroHedge that the people of Panama are rising up because members of their government and their families have been getting obscenely rich from government contracts while the average Panamanian can barely afford gasoline and groceries.
Meanwhile in the USA the current corrupt Big Guy in Washington is unscathed. Just like how the corrupt Big Guy who formerly occupied the Mississippi Governor’s mansion is unscathed.
Probably because in Mississippi and the USA there are no organic protests against corruption.
TANF is federal money, and Tater can't fire Bennie Thompson. Brad is the perfect person (former U.S. Attorney) to pick up for the Feds where he left off for the State.
I interpret this statement as “we’ve been told to hire Lord Snow, and that is we will be doing.”
The yet to be revealed replacement law firm has already finalized their final report, "ghost written" by Favre and Deputy Feel.
Bob we the people know you are only a puppet trying to get them high 4 in PERS. Do as you are told Puppett!
@1:09 PM, as a bought and paid for "journalist" Adam is desperate to be relevant.
"Attorneys represent clients, and MDHS is the client in this case. I hope I don’t need to explain that an attorney needs to remain in close communication with his client at all times."
That's not Bob Anderson talking...God he must be tap dancing fast right now. The ultimate "client" is the taxpayer when it comes to state/federal dollars, but you better believe that some ego above Bob pulled the trigger on Piggot because he's getting close.
Every public dollar in Mississippi for the last 10 years should be audited...by the next State Auditor.
Has anyone checked into the corruption of Bennie Thompson? Or is that a “don’t go there zone?”
"Although USM Athletic Foundation is not yet a party in this case, Brad Pigott issued an extensive subpoena to that entity without any prior discussion of the matter with MDHS."
I think that's the nut of this matter. Pigott went sniffing around the USM volleyball funding without first giving DHS an opportunity to tell him to back off of it. Or maybe they did, and he did it anyway because it's the right thing to do.
Any way they slice it, it sure looks like DHS is covering for Bryant and Favre.
So they admit it is because he subpoenaed Republican untouchables.
Attorney is supposed to keep client informed and seek permission for lawsuits. Remember when Barry Howard got in hot water for filing a lawsuit on behalf of the Hinds County Board of Supervisors despite never getting permission? Withdrew the lawsuit.
There are plenty of good lawyers who can handle this case. Let's see who they get before we scream the sky is falling.
Andy Taggart is just the Republican go boy that will be hired. Watch.
Brad can take his work product accross the street to the Federal Attorney & not miss a beat. And screw the MDHS, USM & Hinds Co. DA.
Smoke and mirrors…..TeleSouth/SuperTalk has no doubt had a say in this too.
With these monies being federal funds, won't the final say be the feds?
I don’t believe in the legitimacy of this civil suit at all. It’s all politics.
This case can’t be prosecuted without exposing all of the individuals/entities it appears the powers that be are trying to expose. How far will they let it go?
I honestly wish Bennie Thompson and the Biden DOJ could dismantle the MSGOP theocratic grip on this state and free us from their corruption and hypocritical treachery!
"We didn't fire him." Bla bla bla. You don't change boats in the middle of the river. A contract non-renewal is firing when an investigation is still ongoing. Pigott was sniffing around too close to Favre and Dep'ty Feel. Volleyball stadiums are sacred cows.
Sorry…beyond 3 paragraphs…I loose interest.
Democrats in Mississippi are so damn powerless.
Nothing to see here. Move along.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/watergate-special-prosecutor-dismissed
The same GOP elitist group that is being defended by KF are probably one of the top donors to this website.
Instead of fake news, it’s paid-for-slanted-news.
Shad’s Audit Report is full of gross inaccuracies and blatant errors. Sit back and enjoy the show, he will be exposed soon.
The sources of Kingfish’s advertising dollars have got some problems. The funds are drying up.
2:42: yes….Ben E the BBQ big shot is totally off limits. Uncle Ted is more powerful than folks realize.
Either Kingfish's headline is a lie or the DHS Director is a liar. Take your pick.
Not that Fitch or Anderson would know this, but technically you can't 'fire' an independent contractor (contracted lawyer) since there is no employer/EMPLOYEE relationship. An employer, contractor in this case, can terminate the relationship but he can't terminate the employee since he's not an employee. Got it?
However, being told to hit the door, your contract will not be renewed is about as close to being FIRED as one can get.
At the root of all this mumbo jumbo and wasted time is the fact that it depends on what is is.
My guess is this: Pigott told Anderson that he was prepared to issue subpoenas to Favre and Phil. Anderson passed that information on and britches were shit. Pigott was to hold off but had the good sense to go ahead and document and proceed as a matter of record. Had Brad said, "Ok, fine, I'll back off. I'm good with that", we would not have the faintest idea any of this transpired.
Speaking of Supertalk, I doubt there's anybody there as an employee or a contracted agent who has enough sense to connect dots or to escape the connecting of dots. When will they announce twenty times a day, "From the studios of the state Republican Party"?
If KF has faith that DHS will pick another duly qualified attorney and all, then we should as well. I mean with his legal experience and expertise and all…..
As a common man, all I sense is that a variety of sphincter muscles
are very tight and new office furniture orders are "on hold".
So here’s the $1M question: If Piggot had informed DHS he wanted to subpoena the Foundation, would they have allowed it?
What's the deal? All I did was say the AG's 2017 approval should have been reported last night. It is a very relevant fact. Is it a decisive fact? No idea but it should be included in any reporting about the volleyball centre. I even posted the relevant minutes. In other words, I treated you as if you have brains and can read them for yourselves to make up your own minds.
Everyone is freaking out today about the "firing." Let's just see what happens. If a competent and thorough lawyer is appointed, ok then. If a hack is appointed, fair game for criticism. For those of you saying Lord Snow, that probably won't happen. Snow represented Nancy New at one point in this scandal.
Has anyone checked into the corruption of Bennie Thompson? Or is that a “don’t go there zone?”
The shit that is in your imagination or the bullshit your neighbor told you?
Bob is a good man and a good lawyer. I know him personally and know him to be honest. Brad, on the other hand did some REALLY scary things while U.S. Attorney. In my opinion, people tend to continue doing what they've always done, and what Bob said he did here is just a continuation of earlier behavior. There are too many good lawyers out there to have to put up with rogue behavior like this.
All of this for a volleyball facility for a girl whose last name is Favre? I think the pant shitting is happening because the sports ball complex is one of many special projects tied to (former) government officials. What else could a real investigation uncover? Perhaps the semi-retired US Attorney could assist the federal government in finding out.
Non-renewal may have been dumber than keeping him. Can’t use attorney client privilege to cover up a crime, right?
Bennie Thompson does not get investigated, the FBI and DOJ have a hands off policy regarding Mr. Thompson, in other words, he can do no wrong cause he has to stay in office.
Shad’s Audit Report is full of gross inaccuracies and blatant errors.
Prove it. PUT UP.
Comment above that you don't change attorneys "in the middle of the river" is beyond laughable.
People on here talking about Bennie as if anyone is distracted by their bullshit. People aren’t as dumb as SuperTalk believes. They can see what’s happening.
All y’all calling him a rogue leaker who wasn’t obeying orders and deviating from the scope of representation, and then KF actually pretending this is about finding a good new lawyer to zealously pursue the claims, y’all are just the typical apologists for the rampant corruption in this one party cesspool that has gone on for way too long now. Pigott was taking his shot at discovering serious corruption, and y’all are supporters of the forces that shut him down.
"Any way they slice it, it sure looks like DHS is covering for Bryant and Favre "
What's the old saying ?
( Perception is reality)
But lil' Shad does seem to be "squirming" these days.
Regarding Supertalk/Telesouth ... it seems that might be another location for very (extra tight) sphincter muscles.
Bob Anderson explained that the attorney is not acting like one. He is acting like he doesn't work for DHS. He is acting like he is a U.S. Attorney with a commission from the President. He does want to report to Bob Anderson.
About the time a certain auditor realizes that he could be next under the bus...now listen to him ballin' and squallin'!
Ballin' And Squallin' Buck Griffin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8lbm2R_kiA
KF, Getting a client's permission before filing suit and getting permission before serving discovery/a subpoena duces tecum are two very different things.
I don't know any attorneys who get a client's permission before serving records subpoenas, except in exceptional circumstances (such as to their boss, family members, etc.).
“People aren’t as dumb as SuperTalk believes”
Their listeners are.
The New York Times already has an article about this. Here is the link, but you must have an account to read it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/23/us/mississippi-lawyer-fired-welfare.html
Mississippi Fires Lawyer Trying to Recoup Misused Welfare Funds
The lawyer had issued a subpoena that could reveal details about the involvement of a former governor and a football star in the scandal.
https://mississippitoday.org/2022/07/23/welfare-head-says-surprise-subpoena-led-to-attorneys-firing-emails-show-it-wasnt-a-surprise/
According to Wolfe, Pigott sent a draft copy of the subpoena to the AGs office and the DHS attorney ten days before he filed it. That seems like notice.
Also interesting that Shad has criticized the firing of Pigott.
This is weird stuff.
The NYT times has a prominent article this morning. Sums up what went on and where we are and who we are. And maybe why we are.
7:16–I agree. I’ve worked with Bob, and he’s one of the most honest persons I know. I’ve also had dealings with Brad, and I agree with your sentiments there, as well.
The New York Times already has an article about this.
So what? 99% of Mississippi doesn't pay to read the NYT.
There is no smoking gun. Otherwise Pigott would have already leaked it Wolfe.
To MDHS officials; We are not stupid nor are we dumb! Monies were misspent and this Agency officials must be held responsible! Spin this any way you want the buck falls on your lap. John Davis was the Director and he was Directed by Higher Up’s.
Many lower ranking members of your staff know this shit was Wrong. I assume they kept quiet because Jobs with benefits are hard to find in Mississippi.
This whole shit is sad and the Nation knows via media how crooked the ex administration was!
To the current Executive Director is that high four in PERS really worth it? Don’t sell your soul to the Devils! And don’t turn on life long friends for shit that had nothing to do with you.
The people of Mississippi are not Stupid.
Uh oh, Bob Anderson may not be so honest about what he's saying. He needs that highest 4th year, so he can bolt.... but maybe he's short and had to play dirty ball with the big boys. Yikes.
"A July 1 email shows Pigott sent a draft copy of the subpoena to both the Attorney General’s Office and the welfare agency’s general counsel — 10 days before he filed it."
So, anybody know how many more years does poor Bob need for that PERS highest 4? He retires in 3...2...1...
I was on the periphery of MDHS during the most relevant periods. At the time, MDHS was being scolded for allowing too much of the TANF grant to go unspent and returned to the Feds. So a decision was made to shovel it all out the door to the two grantees, MCEC and its north MS counterpart. MDHS leadership was then in constant communication with the grantees as to how to further subdivide the money. The idea was to get it out to a grantee to show it as spent. It did not start out as nefarious. The resulting expenditures to Marcus Dupree, Prevacus, Favre, the Dibiase clan, USM . . . those were more or less the result of the collective stupidity and impoverished values of John Davis, Phil Bryant, Nancy New, and others in Republican political leadership at the time. It was ultimately just a failure of character by cynical people who never believed in the programs anyway. What the MS GOP has never understood is that you can put true believers and empaths over MDHS without threatening your petty little kingdom. Let a Dem run MDHS, and you can continue to run economic development and other areas. We need people over these federal programs that actually believe in their missions.
Simple question: Why would USM, Bryant and TeleSouth not be subpoenaed? USM and Bryant are obvious, and TeleSouth received a large sum of money too. It makes no legitimate sense not to include them if there truly is a legitimate effort to investigate this ordeal.
This whole shit is sad and the Nation knows via media how crooked the ex administration was!
The nation gives a shit about Phil Bryant's former administration?
ROFLMAO
You are absolutely out of your mind to believe that.
Pigott's contract was to achieve claw backs. He wasn't there heading up some sort of special counsel investigation.
I was on the periphery of MDHS during the most relevant periods.
How so? Be specific? Otherwise you're offering more anonymous conjecture easily gleaned from all the information already made public.
But, but, but then you offer:
Let a Dem run MDHS, and you can continue to run economic development and other areas. We need people over these federal programs that actually believe in their missions.
Oh, yes, the Democrats truly "believe in their missions". You should share that shit with the local Twitter hallelujah chorus who love that sort of garbage.
@10:56 the North MS counterpart is named Family Resource Center and its Executive Director is named Christi Webb. FRC and Ms. Webb have conveniently been left out of many of the conversations and public scorn. She, like yourself apparently, is a Democrat. Hopefully the Feds are looking into her actions, as the State has largely ignored her thus far.
12:06 - I will not be specific. I agree that what I said does not go beyond what MS Today has already discovered. I meant it as corroboration, not revelation. As for my last point, it’s really a simple one. I’ve seen people over the SNAP program in the poorest state in the Union obsess constantly over rooting out fraud that by all objective and honest measures is tiny and not a serious problem in the program. It’s a politically driven witch-hunt and a waste of time and money. I’ve seen the TANF grant be spent on nebulous crap described in language so vague nobody knows what the real impact is or even was supposed to be, although now we know some of what the real intentions were. I’ve seen the child support program sold to a campaign contributor. I’ve seen parents and daycare providers complain incessantly about poor management of the childcare development block grant with little to no urgency from leadership to fix it.
The point from which a person starts matters a great deal, and his core philosophy and values will color all he does and says. Different people have different strengths. My argument is that, while it’s no guarantee, a Dem is more likely to provide quality leadership to MDHS. Like a Rep would to MDA or DFA.
Fraud is okay as long as it is "... tiny and not a serious problem ...".
I was also there during that time and disagree with some of your points. The push to not send funds back to the feds stemmed from heavy criticism by congress. John Davis had to save face after promising he wouldn’t ask for budget increases and then needed state money. TANF is not the only program this crew of degenerates were attempting to dip into. At the state level, these programs should be treated with the same regard as a non-profit with a business mindset. Program Investigators, as they are so called by the federal agencies, SHOULD be looking for fraud and managing those grant funds as if it’s a business. Employees and staff at the local level or the service level should be aware of red flags, but those are the caseworkers who “believe in the mission.” Above all else, if the funds are set aside for a particular purpose, regardless of a persons own beliefs around the mission, if someone is hired to run a grant program, he or she should run the grant program per the intent of those funds. That should never be a partisan issue. Not every CEO of a major corporation is republican or democrat, but can still run a business. If our government ran more like a business with citizens as the stakeholders rather than votes to line pockets, maybe the state wouldn’t need so much welfare money in the first place.
@4:51pm Well said. Fed Investigators should take a peek at the federal financial aid scam Mississippi runs... billions involved over twenty institutions of higher learning. Anything goes/whatever it takes to not have to give/pay that student's aid back - and the whole Mississippi machine looks the other way.
This civil suit will do nothing but further expose DHS and the State of Mississippi's incompetency's, and deeper systematic problems across the board in this backwards-ass state. Nancy New has been made to be the poster child of this ordeal, notwithstanding the fact that numerous politicians (yes, numerous) and dozens of other individuals and companies were involved. Many of those folks are still hiding (or being hid) in the shadows. Makes you wonder why.
... notwithstanding the fact that numerous politicians (yes, numerous) and dozens of other individuals and companies were involved.
How do you know?
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