Meg Scott Phipps

Meg Scott Phipps is an American former politician who served as the Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of North Carolina from 2001 to 2003.

Meg Scott Phipps
North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture
In office
2001–2003
GovernorMike Easley
Preceded byJames Allen Graham
Succeeded byBritt Cobb

Early life

From Mebane, North Carolina, she is the daughter of former North Carolina governor Bob Scott and Jessie Rae Scott, as well as the granddaughter of former U.S. Senator and North Carolina Governor W. Kerr Scott. Phipps is a 1978 graduate of Wake Forest University and a 1981 graduate of the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University.

Career

A Democrat, she was elected to the position of Agriculture Commissioner in November 2000. Controversy erupted less than a month into her term when she selected a new midway vendor for the North Carolina State Fair, replacing a longtime vendor, who immediately filed suit against the state.

In May 2001, allegations emerged of inappropriate use of campaign funds from her 2000 campaign.

Resignation and criminal charges

After two campaign aides were indicted and one pleaded guilty to federal fraud and extortion charges, North Carolina Governor Mike Easley asked Phipps to resign her position. She finally resigned her position on June 6, 2003, and was replaced by interim commissioner Britt Cobb.

In October 2003, Phipps was tried and found guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice charges; soon afterwards, she pleaded guilty to five of the original 30 federal charges against her, including fraud, conspiracy, and witness tampering. In March 2004, she was sentenced to four years in federal prison and served her sentence at Alderson Federal Prison Camp in West Virginia.[1]

While in prison, Phipps she became friends with Martha Stewart, who was also incarcerated there. While serving her sentence, Phipps taught English and other courses to her fellow inmates.[2]

On April 23, 2007, Phipps was released from prison.[3] She wore an electronic ankle bracelet and was able to leave her house only to go to work through August.[4]

Later life

The Raleigh News & Observer reported that she would become director of Christian education at Hawfields Presbyterian Church, her family church, in Mebane in Alamance County following her release from prison.[5]

Footnotes
  1. | Sep 5, 2003 | Former N.C. agriculture chief indicted | SCOTT MOONEYHAM / Associated Press |
  2. wral.com, April 23, 2007, Meg Scott Phipps Returns Home After Prison Stint by David Crabtree
  3. newsobserver.com | Phipps released from prison Archived October 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Top News: Phipps to be released from prison, phipps, prison, family - www.thetimesnews.com
  5. newsobserver.com | Church job, ankle bracelet await Phipps after prison Archived October 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
Preceded by
James Allen Graham		 North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture
2001 – 2003		 Succeeded by
Britt Cobb
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