Quick Facts
Biography
Meg Scott Phipps was the Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of North Carolina from 2001 to 2003.
Early life
From Mebane, North Carolina, she is the daughter of former North Carolina governor Bob Scott and former First Lady 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.
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.
On April 23, 2007, Phipps was released from prison. She wore an electronic ankle bracelet and was able to leave her house only to go to work through August.
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.