On July 22nd, the Mississippi State Agency fired lawyer J. Brad Pigott after he filed a lawsuit that could possibly show Mississippian corruption in welfare funds. According to a 2020 state audit, as much as $94 million in federal funds may have been misused in Mississippi. The audit showed that most of the funds were found in accounts of rich Mississippians and not to those in need.
Mr. Pigott’s termination is also connected to a $5 million construction of a volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. A couple days before Mr. Pigott was terminated, he sent a lawsuit to the university’s athletic office for documents detailing how the money was used in the construction.
Mississippi Department of Human Service’s executive Robert G. Anderson explained that Mr. Pigott was fired because he sent the lawsuit without approval from higher-ups. However, email history showed Mr. Pigott sending the state attorney general an initial copy for permission more than a week ago prior to Mr Pigott’s lawsuit; the state attorney general denied to provide an explanation for this.
On July 23rd, Pigott explained to journalists in a phone call that when his contract was terminated, he was informed that it wasn’t his work ethic or the quality of legal work. Pigott was given no other reason from Anderson. “I believe I was fired as a result of a pattern of orders from the Mississippi governor’s office concerning protecting an entity, called the University of Southern Mississippi Athletic Foundation, from any responsibility in this matter,” he said.
Shelby, a spokeswoman for Governor Reevers, put out a statement on July 23rd saying that there were “many capable lawyers who can handle the work necessary to recover stolen TANF funds,” referring to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the federal welfare program.
Many people in power usually are hiding dark secrets and hiding them from the republic. When these secrets are exposed, they tend to “eliminate” the source to protect themselves. Eventually, “what happens in the dark, comes into light.”
Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/23/us/mississippi-lawyer-fired-welfare.html
Mr. Pigott’s termination is also connected to a $5 million construction of a volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. A couple days before Mr. Pigott was terminated, he sent a lawsuit to the university’s athletic office for documents detailing how the money was used in the construction.
Mississippi Department of Human Service’s executive Robert G. Anderson explained that Mr. Pigott was fired because he sent the lawsuit without approval from higher-ups. However, email history showed Mr. Pigott sending the state attorney general an initial copy for permission more than a week ago prior to Mr Pigott’s lawsuit; the state attorney general denied to provide an explanation for this.
On July 23rd, Pigott explained to journalists in a phone call that when his contract was terminated, he was informed that it wasn’t his work ethic or the quality of legal work. Pigott was given no other reason from Anderson. “I believe I was fired as a result of a pattern of orders from the Mississippi governor’s office concerning protecting an entity, called the University of Southern Mississippi Athletic Foundation, from any responsibility in this matter,” he said.
Shelby, a spokeswoman for Governor Reevers, put out a statement on July 23rd saying that there were “many capable lawyers who can handle the work necessary to recover stolen TANF funds,” referring to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the federal welfare program.
Many people in power usually are hiding dark secrets and hiding them from the republic. When these secrets are exposed, they tend to “eliminate” the source to protect themselves. Eventually, “what happens in the dark, comes into light.”
Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/23/us/mississippi-lawyer-fired-welfare.html
