News outlet asks court to dismiss former Mississippi governor's defamation lawsuit

Source: Associated Press

News outlet asks court to dismiss former Mississippi governor’s defamation lawsuit

BY MICHAEL GOLDBERG
Updated 7:54 PM EDT, August 28, 2023

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A local news outlet that helped expose a wide-reaching public corruption scandal has filed its first defense against a defamation lawsuit brought by former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, with the news outlet arguing it engaged in constitutionally protected speech.

In Mississippi Today’s first legal response since Bryant sued the outlet and its CEO in the Circuit Court of Madison County on July 26 for allegedly defaming him in public comments on the misspending of $77 million of federal welfare funds, attorney Henry Laird outlined on Friday 19 legal defenses against the former governor’s claims.

The attorney also requested that the ex-governor’s complaint be dismissed.

“We will vigorously defend this case and ensure the people of Mississippi that the press will not be intimidated,” said Mississippi Today CEO Mary Margaret White in a statement. “We stand for press freedom and will always uphold our mission of building a more informed Mississippi.”

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-welfare-scandal-phil-bryant-lawsuit-aa454718d50d96a924c98b0e4e823549