Note: This column was distributed Sunday before the news of Ms. Wolfe's Pulitzer award was announced.
Founded in 2016 and “supported by grants from foundations, by contributions from donors and sponsors and by advertising,” the website Mississippi Today bills itself as a “digital-first, nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom serving Mississippi.”
The organization’s last published audit from 2020 showed $2.5 million in net assets.
Without question, Mississippi Today’s best-known story is reporter Anna Wolfe’s series of stories on the alleged misspending by Mississippi officials of what is identified as $77 million in federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds – welfare funds intended for the poor in the poorest state in the union.
Mississippi Today promotes Wolfe’s stories as having “revealed former Gov. Phil Bryant’s role in a sprawling welfare scandal. Each part of the series delved further into Bryant’s misuse and squandering of at least $77 million in federal funds meant to assist nearly 588,000 of the state’s poorest residents.”
Bryant has strongly, consistently, and frequently asserted that he hasn’t broken the law.
But the “news organization” is so certain of their story that in February, Mississippi Today chief executive officer Mary Margaret White told a Knight Foundation Media Forum audience: “We’re the newsroom that broke the story about $77 million in welfare funds, intended for the poorest people in the poorest state in the nation, being embezzled by a former governor and his bureaucratic cronies to be used on pet projects like a state-of-the-art volleyball stadium at Brett Favre’s alma mater.”
The problem with White’s statement is that to date, it simply isn’t factual. Phil Bryant hasn’t been charged with any crime, arrested for any crime nor indicted by a state or federal grand jury for any crime – including embezzlement.
In 1895, in a case styled Moore v. United States, the Supreme Court defined embezzlement and outlined four specific elements required to prove the crime of embezzlement. One of those specific elements is that “the defendant’s dealing with the property constituted a fraudulent conversion or appropriation of it to his/her own use.”
So far, neither State Auditor Shad White, the Hinds County District Attorney, nor the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi have revealed any evidence suggesting that Phil Bryant received any conversion of TANF funds to his use or possession.
To be sure, the entire welfare scandal is beyond troubling. But there is some context missing. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reviewed TANF spending across the country and found that in Mississippi in 2021, our state spent about $57 million. Some 6% of that was spent on basic assistance, 34% on work activities, and 3% on childcare.
But CBPP also noted nationally: “States have broad flexibility over the use of state and federal TANF funds. Many have used that flexibility to divert funds away from income support for families and toward other state budget areas often unrelated to TANF’s goals. In 2021, states spent only about a fifth of the funds on basic assistance to meet essential needs of families with children.”
Nonpartisan analysts Stateline.org is even more pointed in their assessment: “Congress gave states significant flexibility to decide on cash benefits amounts, eligibility and other requirements. It also allowed states wide latitude on how they can spend TANF dollars, as long as they are used for at least one of four broad purposes: giving assistance to needy families so children can be cared for in their own homes or with relatives, promoting job preparation and work, preventing and reducing out-of-wedlock pregnancies and encouraging two-parent families.”
In recent days, Bryant released a trove of text messages in an effort to clear his name and to make his case that his actions weren’t illegal.
If federal or state officials have evidence against Bryant for embezzlement, they should act on it. Charge him, arrest him, indict him. If they don’t have such evidence, they should say so. Bryant’s reputation is being shredded and releasing texts unfortunately won’t clear his name.
And it’s also important to note what Stateline.org said in 2020 about the TANF program nationally, not simply Mississippi: “TANF has devolved into a kind of candy store that many states are raiding to plug budget holes and pay for programs that have little to do with moving poor people into the workforce.”
37 comments:
Some people just enjoy shooting themselves in the foot, repeatedly.
I rarely agree with Sid, but he's right. At least part of her story seems to be lacking evidence to back it up. At least one Pulitzer has been awarded for work that also lacked evidence of the author's assertions.
Bryant never had a good name to sully. The investigations will uncover his role in all of this soon enough, but deleting all his incriminating text messages and claiming they just vanished into thin air like a fart in the wind makes him look guilty as hell. His judgement cometh and that right soon.
On the bright side, ex Gov. Bryant’s home town is Moorhead. This will facilitate his relatives visiting him at Parchment prison.
How to put the best face on bad facts, by Sid Salter.
With a bonus track, “I’m jealous of Mississippi Today.”
But, didn't y'all hear? Anna won a Pulitzer, so he's guilty!
8:51 AM , May 10th, speaks the truth. Sid Salter is usually a total parrot for the left wing crowd , but he is right here. Does Gov. Bryant have a case for defamation if he is never charged?
this will not age well , does Sid owe phil a favor ?
A politician is tried in the court of public opinion.
He will probably never get indicted, he will probably never be tried, and he will probably never go to prison. That's because poor people have no real advocates or lobbyists to protect their interests and shaving money from their "cookie jar" is easy pickings. That's WHY it happens. Sid is right about that. However, even if they have legal loopholes those greedy politicians and paper-pushers get no sympathy from me when they are caught taking advantage of the most helpless citizens. Governor of ALL the people? What a joke.
Sid ,did you and Russ Latino get the same press release ?
The opinions of the CEO of an organization are just that,opinions.Your criticism of Anna Wolfe's reporting is unjustified. If you have found errors in her reporting you need to specifically cite them, otherwise you're engaging in cheap ad hominem attacks.
I'm a long time conservative but Richard Nixon and Donald Trump have taught me that liberals are sometimes correct.
Should politicians trying to defend themselves avoid train wreck interviews with reporters? Asking for a friend!
"Non-partisan" my ass.
I've never seen a single word in any news report that said Phil is guilty of embezzlement. Sid must is taking a statement made by one person and somehow claiming that is what was reported. What the reporting did reveal was text messages from Phil that raise questions about his activities. However, he was unable to find those messages when he turned over "all" his messages. I'm satisfied to draw my on conclusion based on the information that is out there - Phil is stupid (which is not a new revelation) and his ignorance may have gotten him into trouble.
Phil to Sid: "Shut the hell up, dude. We good."
Lots of folks need to take a reading comprehension course.....
The whole point to stories like this is to convict without evidence. You want to leave the target with no defense beyond proving a negative. These investigative reporters start out with the belief that the target has been up to no good and then proceed to try to build a case. When they don’t find actual facts, raising suspicion on the basis of circumstances and the target’s personal connections is sufficient. Especially if those personal connections include people with less than stellar reputations. None of that would work in a law court, but it can be effective in shaping public opinion. Mere innuendo will do. So the question should always be, what did the target actually do, not what do you think he might have done.
Bwahahahaha!
There is no doubt there was corruption regarding the funds. There is no doubt that silly Phil screamed from high, that he would be a governor that would make decisions and "Run" the state. It's been said many times, but yes, the buck does have to stop somewhere. Did Phil as governor not hold his people accountable? He is at best, the worst governor in Mississippi modern times, if you look at his report card. He is at worst, no different than the corrupt Biden family. Don't care if you are D/R/Independent, etc. there must be accountability. To close, if the state auditor had any ethics at all, he would spew his legal and investigative rhetoric on Phil, just as he has others for doing way less.
In other words he did nothing illegal, he did everything wrong.
I’ve privately thought the same thing. I understand why Shad doesn’t go after him but IF there were factual evidence, I’m sure the prosecutors would’ve brought charges by now. While I think Phil knowingly used the funds, I think he was just parroting the precedent of previous administrations. I don’t like what he spent the funds on but I don’t think he did anything actually illegal.
Brandon Presley loses in November.
So Phil Bryant should be indicted so that he can defend himself? That's fine with me.
Bryant, as a well known public figure would never be able to prevail in a defamation claim.
Listen up, plebes: The only reason he has not yet been charged it that, if charged, he either could not be called as a witness by the state, or his testimony would easily be questionable, if not impeachable.
As soon as the parade progresses to trial stage, he will testify, as will others and that will be followed by convictions and HIS being charged.
The Feds didn't fall off a Food Truck in Fondren.
Over under for how many times Phil ends up pleading the fifth. My guess is more than 100.
For once, Sid is right. Mississippi Today is just short of Jackson Free Press on the socialist/Democrat left.
Why, by suing wolfe and crew for defamation
The Ms Today site will do everything possible to denigrate a Republican & applaud a Democrat. No different than the NYT, Washington Post, CNN, PBS & MSNBC. Be aware of the ownership, supporters & writers for MS Today!
I believe Shad is actively involved in the coverup. There is no other way to explain his actions and statements up to this point.
As Therese Apel points out, this is why you always use the word “Allegedly” until court conviction…. One would think a Pulitzer worthy “news” organization would know that…
Bryant's first offense will be to show that he was harmed by malicious and false statements made publicly.
How do you suppose Bryant can show harm?
Bryant is well known for making stupid decisions and running into the briar patch, barefoot, but no lawyer would allow him to proceed with a defamation suit.
Mississippi Today should have been more careful in the wording of their allegations but I believe they were correct. Does anyone honestly believe that John Davis made any decisions without asking the Gov? Davis wore out the knees to all his pants groveling before Deputy Phil.
I understand Sid’s angst but there is nothing unusual. Public figures are investigated by law enforcement and media. The waiting game can be difficult.
One suggestion is Phil could hire a publicist and a criminal defense lawyer if he hasn’t already.
RMQ
... but I believe they were correct.
You believe he embezzled?
Spoken like a true ex highway patrolman!
7:15PM.
Theft or misapplication of funds placed in one’s trust or belonging to one’s employer. Yes I do
3:52pm: "Shad is involved in coverup"
No basis to such scurrilous statement. Shad has to present audit/evidence then hold in his pee if feds have the case.
He has demonstrated consistent tenacity for ferreting out misuse of taxpayer funds. MS should be grateful for such a professional.
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