Nettleton – Meet Tainted Tate’s friend Nancy New, a central figure in the largest corruption scandal in state history. She and her son Zach both plead guilty to charges of misusing public welfare money for personal use and for projects such as the University of Southern Mississippi volleyball stadium. As part of their guilty pleas, they admitted to “pocketing” $4 million in public education funds related to the New Summit School.

Nancy New’s crimes included four counts of bribing a public official, two counts of fraud against the government, six counts of wire fraud and one count of racketeering in connection with the largest welfare scandal in Mississippi history. She’s facing a maximum sentence of 99 years for her role in the welfare scandal.

Under Tate Reeves’ watch, MCEC, the New-led non-profit, transferred over $6 million to private schools owned by Nancy New, bought luxury vehicles for New family members and paid expensive rents on property owned by the News. 

Nancy New’s New Summit School “fleeced” the Mississippi Department of Education out of more than $2 million using an education program that primarily served children placed in hospitals or in licensed psychiatric facilities.

In 2020, Tate Reeves pledged to return donations from those involved in the largest public corruption scandal in state history, including Nancy New and Zach New, who gave his campaign $8,500 from 2017-2019 during the time they were stealing from taxpayers. Reeves has broken that promise and even had a little temper tantrum when asked about his failure to return donations. 

“Nefarious Nancy will follow Tainted Tate around the Neshoba County Fair today just like her shadow follows him around this whole campaign. No matter where Tate Reeves goes, the stench of his cronies’ crimes will follow him because when the investigator got too close, Tate Reeves fired him to protect his tainted friends,” said Michael Beyer, Communications Director for Brandon Presley.

SEE BELOW: All three times Tate Reeves used footage from Nancy New’s now-shuttered school in his campaign ads - which he continued to use even after she pleaded guilty, just to rub our faces in his involvement in this scandal. Tainted Tate’s campaign said they were “proud” to film their ad at the New’s school, which first aired while the News faced criminal investigations.

Tate’s defense? He actually said, “I guess whoever did the editing decided that it was a good picture.”

Here is the footage shot in Nancy New’s now-defunct school from the 2023 Tate Reeves campaign ad:

Here is the footage shot in Nancy New’s now-defunct school from the 2023 Tate Reeves campaign ad:

Here is the footage shot in Nancy New’s now-defunct school from the 2023 campaign launch video:

Here is the footage shot in Nancy New’s now-defunct school from the 2019 Tate Reeves campaign ad:

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