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Former auditors question whether Shad White was too close to investigate Phil Bryant
State Auditor Shad White’s close connections with former Gov. Phil Bryant have helped cast doubt over the independence and rigor of the state welfare investigation led by White.
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There are several different ways, some criminal and some just wrong, that the people in charge of the welfare program misspent the money, according to auditors.
1) Agency and nonprofit employees are accused of forging documents in order to issue or cover up illegal payments, sometimes to themselves – a clear crime.
2) Officials and contractors awarded TANF money for activities or programs that did not serve the poor or satisfy other goals of the welfare program, a possible violation of federal regulations.
3) Officials awarded money to specific vendors – at times on the suggestion of political figures – without an application or bid process, a possible violation of federal grant guidance.
A federal grant purchase might be wasteful, constitute a conflict of interest or violate federal grant rules, but not rise to the level of a crime. That’s why criminal charges in the state’s case so far cover only about $4 million, while the auditor’s office has recommended civil damages up to $96 million – $77 million the office says John Davis misspent plus interest.

Mississippi welfare: What we bought versus what we could have bought
We broke down what an audit alleges the Mississippi Department of Human Services actually purchased versus what could have been purchased with funding from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, intended to assist families in poverty or prevent families from reaching poverty.
HOW IT ALL STARTED

We’ve been chasing this story on corruption in Mississippi’s welfare programs for two years
We know that this story matters to you and Mississippi. Our reporting on corruption in welfare programs is far from over, and we want your support.