Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves’ brother helped coordinate retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre’s plans to repay $1.1 million in Temporary Assistance For Needy Families funds tied to the state’s massive welfare scandal, text messages the governor’s campaign revealed today show.
“The texts in question, which are revealed in full here, show Todd Reeves connecting Brett Favre and (State) Auditor Shad White to help coordinate the repayment of funds. There is nothing that implies Todd was involved beyond helping the state to recover misspent dollars,” a statement from the governor’s office this afternoon says.
Reeves’ office said in the statement that they released the texts to preempt a forthcoming Mississippi Today article. The nonprofit news site took the state auditor’s office to court to get him to provide the texts through a public-records request, but White’s office cited “their broad exemption for records that are related to investigations as is their standard policy,” Reeves’ statement says.
When the Mississippi Free Press asked the auditor’s office for comments on Reeves’ decision to release the texts, White’s communications director Fletcher Freeman responded with a statement.
Mississippi State Auditor Shad White sent a text message to Todd Reeves on May 6, 2020, telling him how Brett Favre’s check to repay $500,000 in misspent welfare funds should be written. Screencap courtesy Tate Reeves campaign
“While Mr. Reeves has the right to release his text messages, the State Auditor’s Office has not and will not release information regarding a potential or ongoing investigation to protect the integrity of an investigation,” he said. “The men and women of the State Auditor’s Office have worked tirelessly to hold those who steal taxpayers’ dollars accountable, and we will continue to work with prosecutors and our federal partners to do so.”
The Reeves campaign and other Republicans have become increasingly critical of Mississippi Today’s coverage of the welfare scandal. Last month, former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant sued the publication, alleging defamation; Mississippi Today’s attorneys have denied Bryant’s allegations.
Today’s press release from Gov. Reeves includes a statement from Todd Reeves.
“I’ve been friendly with Brett for years, and always heard great
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