To be clear, this suit stems from another journalist (their CEO) stating things that weren't factual and was admitted as such:
>Bryant did not sue after the articles were published in April 2022, and, in fact, the statute of limitations on defamation claims in Mississippi lapses after one year. But in February 2023, the CEO of Mississippi Today, Mary Margaret White, mischaracterized the reporting at a journalism conference in Miami.
>“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 and used on pet projects like a state-of-the-art volleyball stadium at Brett Favre’s alma mater,” she said in videotaped remarks.
>Embezzlement is a crime, and Bryant has never been charged, let alone convicted. There has been no indication he is a target of an ongoing federal investigation into the welfare fraud scandal.
>In May 2023 — a few days after the Pulitzer announcement — Quin sent Mississippi Today a notice of his intention to sue, citing the “embezzlement” remark. A week later, White issued a public apology, saying: “I misspoke at a recent media conference regarding the accusations against former Governor Phil Bryant in the $77 million welfare scandal. He has not been charged with any crime. My remark was inappropriate, and I sincerely apologize.”
For what it's worth, the former governor and his lawyer weren't satisfied with the apology and went forward with their lawsuit.
I see two sides to this. It's critical that journalistic sources be held in confidence, but it's also critical to guarantee presumption of innocence until proven guilty and that journalists don't abuse their position to spread slander.
That their entire investigation is now getting pulled in demonstrates just how stupid that CEO journalist was.
It's important to note that the Pulitzer winning journalist isn't being accused of defamation here.
She's facing jail time because the defamation case resulted in a court order to see information about her confidential sources (presumably via the discovery process). Reputable journalists don't hand over details about their confidential sources.
former Governor Phil Bryant signed docs to allocate those funds. Plain and simple. He claims ignorance. It wasn't a pocket change, he should have been aware of what he was signing and where those funds came from. It is plain corruption and he is trying to get back at the journalists for exposing his corruption.
"Embezzlement is a crime, and Bryant has never been charged, let alone convicted. There has been no indication he is a target of an ongoing federal investigation into the welfare fraud scandal."
I see no need for an apology and no merit for any lawsuit. Each part of those sentences is a factual statement. No where is it said, "Then Governor Phil Bryant is an embezzler." Bryant is making his own assumptions there, because he knows what he did.
Wikipedia says, "The previous director of Mississippi's welfare agency, John Davis, who admitted to being involved and is currently working with authorities, was appointed by Phil Bryant. An attorney said, “John Davis knows of the extent of personal involvement of former Governor Bryant and Governor (Tate) Reeves and the massive waste of taxpayer money,” but said that Davis was under direction from the FBI to remain silent." (my emphasis)
Sounds like someone at the FBI is working the case. Could be some FPMITA prison in Bryant's future.
>“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 and used on pet projects like a state-of-the-art volleyball stadium at Brett Favre’s alma mater,"
Emphasis mine.
That bit of alleged defamation is what the former governor is suing the CEO and her company for, and the court ordered the journalists to turn over sources as part of the trial with penalty of imprisonment if they do not comply.
>Bryant did not sue after the articles were published in April 2022, and, in fact, the statute of limitations on defamation claims in Mississippi lapses after one year. But in February 2023, the CEO of Mississippi Today, Mary Margaret White, mischaracterized the reporting at a journalism conference in Miami.
>“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 and used on pet projects like a state-of-the-art volleyball stadium at Brett Favre’s alma mater,” she said in videotaped remarks.
>Embezzlement is a crime, and Bryant has never been charged, let alone convicted. There has been no indication he is a target of an ongoing federal investigation into the welfare fraud scandal.
>In May 2023 — a few days after the Pulitzer announcement — Quin sent Mississippi Today a notice of his intention to sue, citing the “embezzlement” remark. A week later, White issued a public apology, saying: “I misspoke at a recent media conference regarding the accusations against former Governor Phil Bryant in the $77 million welfare scandal. He has not been charged with any crime. My remark was inappropriate, and I sincerely apologize.”
For what it's worth, the former governor and his lawyer weren't satisfied with the apology and went forward with their lawsuit.
I see two sides to this. It's critical that journalistic sources be held in confidence, but it's also critical to guarantee presumption of innocence until proven guilty and that journalists don't abuse their position to spread slander.
That their entire investigation is now getting pulled in demonstrates just how stupid that CEO journalist was.