Jul 10, 2008 9:00 am US/Pacific
Alaska Legislator Charged With Bribery, Conspiracy
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) ―
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Sen. John Cowdery, R-Anchorage, listens to debate on the Senate floor in Juneau, Alaska, May 9, 2007. (File)
Chris Miller/AP
A grand jury has indicted an Alaska legislator on bribery and conspiracy counts in an ongoing federal investigation of corruption that already has led to convictions against three former Alaska lawmakers.
The two-count indictment against state Sen. John Cowdery was issued late Wednesday and announced Thursday. Federal prosecutors allege that Cowdery conspired with executives of oil field services company VECO Corp. to bribe another unnamed state senator for votes to support oil and gas legislation.
Cowdery, an Anchorage Republican, was in Juneau on Thursday. His lawyer, Kevin Fitzgerald, said his client had not been arrested.
Cowdery checked out of his Juneau hotel early Thursday morning. His office at the Capitol in Juneau was locked, and his aide in Anchorage didn't immediately return a phone call.
Two former VECO executives, Bill Allen and Rick Smith, have been convicted of bribing Alaska lawmakers and are assisting the government in the ongoing investigation.
Two former lawmakers, Pete Kott and Vic Kohring, are serving federal prison sentences following their convictions on corruption charges. Another former lawmaker, Tom Anderson, was convicted of bribery in another case. Another former lawmaker awaits trial.
VECO had stood to gain lucrative contracts if the Legislature in 2006 passed a new oil tax. The government alleges Allen and Smith worked with Cowdery to offer the unnamed senator $25,000 — characterized as campaign contributions — to vote in favor of the legislation.
The FBI nearly two years ago raided the offices of six Alaska lawmakers, including Cowdery. At the time, Cowdery said he didn't know why he was included in the raid or why agents seized items "unrelated to anything," including the stubs of his legislative salary checks. "I certainly haven't done anything wrong," he said.
Smith has testified in earlier trials that he bribed Cowdery but did not give details. Allen has testified that Cowdery was a part of his inner circle.
If convicted of both counts, Cowdery faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. His first court appearance was scheduled for Aug. 11.
The 78-year-old retired contractor has been in ill health and missed much of the last year's legislative sessions. Cowdery, who is in his third Senate term and previously served three terms in the House, is not seeking re-election this year.
U.S. Rep. Don Young and U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, both Alaska Republicans, are under scrutiny for their relationships with VECO executives. Neither has been charged and both deny wrongdoing.
(© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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