Anne Wolfe of Mississippi Today is now in a legal fight to protect journalistic freedom after winning a Pulitzer Prize for her investigative reporting on a $77 million welfare scandal. Wolfe’s story implicated former Mississippi governor Phil Bryant and former NFL star Brett Favre in a scheme that diverted state welfare funds, intended for the poorest citizens, into the hands of the state’s elite.
Following the announcement of Wolfe’s Pulitzer Prize, Bryant filed a defamation lawsuit, claiming the story damaged his reputation. What started as a defamation case has now become a significant test of the freedom of the press. In July, a lower court judge, Brad Mills, demanded that Wolfe and Mississippi Today hand over all privileged materials related to the investigation, including sources and notes. Mills, appointed by Governor Tate Reeves, sought to personally review the documents to determine their relevance to Bryant’s defamation claim.
Wolfe and Mississippi Today editor Adam Ganucheau refused the order, stating that turning over confidential information violates the First Amendment. In an op-ed for The New York Times, Ganucheau argued, “Breaching the confidentiality of sources violates one of the most sacred trusts—and breaks one of the most vital tools—in investigative journalism.”
Mississippi is known for having weak protections for journalists, and this case has far-reaching implications. For Bryant to win his defamation case, he must prove “actual malice,” meaning Wolfe’s reporting was intentionally harmful. However, the court’s demand for all reporting materials poses a threat to future investigations that rely on confidential sources or whistleblowers.
The case is now before the Mississippi Supreme Court, where Wolfe and Mississippi Today hope the state’s highest court will uphold press freedom and prevent the forced disclosure of journalistic sources. “We believe this court order is unconstitutional, so we have no choice but to appeal,” Ganucheau stated. “The stakes are incredibly high.”
If Wolfe refuses to turn over the documents, she could face jail time for contempt of court. Ironically, Wolfe could be the first person jailed in connection with the Mississippi Welfare Scandal, even before any of the individuals she exposed.
