Nettleton – Yesterday, in response to Brandon Presley clearly laying out the facts about Tate Reeves’ financial conflict of interest in protecting his rich friends in the largest public corruption scandal in state history, Tate Reeves went on an unhinged Twitter rant. 

Here’s what Tate Reeves is missing: First of all, the Governor’s Mansion is the people’s house and is funded by Mississippi taxpayers, not HIS personal home. But you’d expect nothing less than that level of entitlement from a corrupt politician. 

Second, Tate Reeves rushed to defend his wealthy donors in an instant. To Tate Reeves, the only USM supporters worth defending are his billionaire donors, lobbyist buddies, and donors who have given over a quarter of a million dollars to USM. He hasn’t displayed that level of urgency to save our state’s rural hospitals, cut the taxes that hurt Mississippi families the most, or return taxpayer money that was lost, stolen, and squandered in the welfare scandal. In fact, the last time we saw Tate act so quickly was when he attacked reporters for asking whether he would fulfill his promise to return thousands of dollars from central figures in the welfare scandal that stole millions for Mississippi taxpayers. 

Third, Tate Reeves based his entire political persona on being a “watchdog” and used to tout his role in providing oversight as lieutenant governor, but now deflects blame for the largest public corruption scandal in state history that happened on his watch. Tate wants you to believe that it was a coincidence that the independent investigator of the welfare scandal was fired a week after he filed a subpoena to get to the bottom of why $5 million in welfare funds were used to build a volleyball stadium. Mississippians see straight through his smokescreen. His campaign contributors have a financial interest in the investigation into the largest public corruption scandal in state history - and Reeves won’t give back $1.7 million in contributions to get rid of this financial conflict of interest. 

Will Tate Reeves return $1.7 million in contributions from donors who benefit from the welfare scandal, or will he continue to politicize the investigation, where he fired the prosecutor who scheduled depositions against his campaign contributors and buddies? Will Tate Reeves even fulfill his promise to return money from criminals in the welfare scandal? Probably not - because the most dangerous place to be in Mississippi is between Tate Reeves and another campaign check.

“Tate Reeves threw a temper tantrum yesterday because nothing touches a nerve for him like calling out how his campaign is funded by individuals who benefitted from the largest public corruption scandal in state history, where $77 million was lost, squandered, or stolen and given to Tate Reeves’ rich friends. As governor, I will clean up corruption so we can make sure state government is on the side of working families, not the wealthy and well-connected buddies of Tate Reeves,” said Gubernatorial Nominee Brandon Presley.

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