The Mississippi Supreme Court has revived former Gov. Phil Bryant’s lawsuit against a news outlet for reporting connected to the largest welfare scandal in state history.
Bryant and his wife, Deborah, sued Mississippi Today, alleging that figures connected to the outlet made defamatory comments about the former governor when reporting on or discussing the abuse of funds intended for the state’s poorest residents by prominent figures.
Back in 2025, Madison County Circuit Court Judge Bradley Mills dismissed the Bryants’ case, contending that they were unable to prove malice by Mississippi Today. At the time, the outlet had successfully countered claims of malicious intent by contending that Bryants’ text messages and admissions contradicted his claims.
However, the state supreme court noted that the former governor’s legal team used the term “actual malice” 23 times and “malice” twice more in the complaint against the news outlet. Because of that, the high court has superseded the lower court’s ruling and has ordered the case to proceed.
“The judgment of dismissal by the Madison County Circuit Court is reversed, and the case is remanded for proceedings consistent with our opinion,” Presiding Justice Josiah Coleman wrote, with six of his colleagues unanimously backing him.
At the heart of the scandal is tens of millions of dollars intended to go to the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program being misspent. While Bryant and notably former NFL standout Brett Favre have not faced any state or federal charges in the scandal, many have already been sentenced for their involvement.
Notable figures involved in this case include former MDHS executive director John Davis, nonprofit founders Nancy New and Christi Webb, former pro wrestler Brett Dibiase, and former Favre business partner Jacob VanLandingham — all of whom have pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme. Last month, Ted Dibiase Jr., Brett’s brother, was cleared of all federal charges in the case.