Mississippi ex-governor releases texts in welfare scandal

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Previous Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant on Wednesday delivered what he said were the entirety of his message and email messages connected with a government assistance misrepresentation examination — including cash spent on building a college volleyball field that was moved by NFL Lobby of Famer Brett Favre.

The 436 pages of messages had a few that generally showed up in court filings, including trades from 2017 to 2019 between the lead representative and the resigned quarterback, with Favre saying he had consented to fund-raise for the volleyball office at the College of Southern Mississippi and asking Bryant for assist with that work.

From 2016 to 2019, the Mississippi Division of Human Administrations squandered more than $77 million in government assistance cash that should help the absolute most unfortunate individuals in the U.S., as per the state evaluator. Examiners have said the division gave cash to not-for-profit associations that spent it on tasks, for example, the $5 million volleyball office on the Hattiesburg grounds.

Bryant, a conservative, completed his second and last term as lead representative in January 2020. Weeks after the fact, the primary crook allegations were documented against six individuals, including John Davis, a Division of Human Administrations chief picked by Bryant.