Mississippi ex-governor threatens to sue news site over welfare fraud comments
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has given notice that he will sue a news organization unless it apologizes for statements he said some of its employees made in connection to misspending of welfare money. An attorney for Bryant sent a certified letter Wednesday to Mississippi Today. A reporter for the online publication won a Pulitzer Prize this week for her coverage of the case. Bryant’s attorney said the news organization’s chief executive officer, Mary Margaret White, made a “false and defamatory” statement about Bryant at a media conference in February. An attorney for Mississippi Today said the publication is reviewing Bryant’s letter to reply as quickly as possible.