Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Former Ag Commissioner Taken To Wake County Jail
NBC 17 Raligh ^ | 10/30/2003 | AP

Posted on 10/30/2003 2:18:21 PM PST by Prospero

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Former state Agriculture Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps was convicted Thursday of perjury and obstruction of justice for lying to the state Board of Elections about her campaign finances.

Phipps, 47, remained calm as Judge Donald Stephens read the verdict. Phipps' family members, including her father, former Gov. Bob Scott, and sisters Jan Scott and Susan Sutton, stared straight ahead.

After a lunch break, Stephens ordered Phipps held in the Wake County Jail until she's sentenced Nov. 12. It was not immediately clear if he would allow Phipps out of custody on bail.

Phipps was found not guilty of one of the five charges against her, encouraging former campaign aide Linda Saunders to lie.

The jury found Phipps guilty of four charges: perjury, aiding and abetting perjury, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

The jury deliberated for less than a day.

Phipps was charged with lying to state election officials about receiving unreported cash campaign contributions and helping repay the campaign debt of one-time political rival and former aide Bobby McLamb.

Prosecutors also accused her of altering checks used to repay that debt and encouraging Saunders to lie to the board and in a deposition before an administrative law judge.

"We love Meg as our daughter, wife, sister and mother," Phipps' family said in a statement. "She is so very dear to our family. We continue to believe in her and will steadfastly support her through our prayers and our presence no matter what. We are especially thankful for the great outpouring of love we have received throughout this ordeal from so many friends across the state."

Phipps, the daughter and granddaughter of governors, was elected agriculture commissioner in 2000. She resigned from office in June after several top aides were indicted by a federal grand jury in a campaign finance scandal in which they were accused of shaking down carnival vendors for contributions. The three aides -- Saunders, McLamb and Mike Blanton -- pleaded guilty and testified against Phipps.

Phipps, a Democrat who resigned from office in June, faces a sentence of roughly 21/2 to 13 years.

In closing arguments, Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby said Phipps sent e-mails, received memos and had conversations showing she knew of illegal loan payments and campaign contributions.

Willoughby laid out for jurors a series of documents and testimony that he said proved that she had lied.

"You, you're the conscience of this community. You need to look her in the eye and say, `How could you?"' he said.

Willoughby told jurors that the Phipps case resembled Watergate, with key aides serving as the foot soldiers in a plan designed to raise illegal campaign contributions from the fair industry.

Phipps then became embroiled in the cover-up as a reporter for The News & Observer of Raleigh began to "snoop about" and election officials began to investigate, Willoughby said.

Phipps' defense lawyer Wade Smith responded that Willoughby's case was built on the testimony of "deceitful people unworthy of belief."

Smith said key witnesses had admitted to lying to federal investigators, to judges and to election officials.

"People have migrated from saying that Meg didn't know to saying she did know. People have changed all the way from zero to 100 percent," he said.

Thirty federal charges are pending against Phipps, including extortion, bribery and mail fraud. Her arraignment in federal court is scheduled for next month.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Politics/Elections; US: North Carolina
KEYWORDS: megscottphipps
Off to the County lock-up, with collards and mystery meat after the de-licing. I don't think she'll want to come back.
1 posted on 10/30/2003 2:18:22 PM PST by Prospero
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Prospero
Note: It's not until the 11th paragraph of this story that we learn that she is a Democrat.

If this were a Republican, it would be noted in the headline.
2 posted on 10/30/2003 2:25:26 PM PST by So Cal Rocket
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: So Cal Rocket
If this were a Republican, it would be noted in the headline.

I had figured it out when the second paragraph didnt mention a party affiliation..

3 posted on 10/30/2003 2:37:02 PM PST by cardinal4 (Hillary and Clark rhymes with Ft Marcy park...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Prospero

4 posted on 10/30/2003 2:43:28 PM PST by moyden2000
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Prospero
I want a photo of her in her orange suit.
5 posted on 10/30/2003 2:44:39 PM PST by Constitution Day
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson