Another One Bites the Dust. John Cowdery is Sentenced.
It’s been a while since the last Mudflats infiltration field trip. So, today seemed like a good day to take a little drive to the Federal Courthouse in Anchorage. Today is the day that the latest in a long string of “corrupt bastards” got sentenced. You may recall a previous post or two talking about Alaska State Senator John Cowdery.
Cowdery pleaded guilty in December to conspiring with Bill Allen, chief executive of the oil-field services company Veco Corp., to bribe Sen. Donny Olson, D-Nome, with up to $25,000 in illegal campaign contributions. Olson, who was making a bid for lieutenant governor, never got the money and wasn’t charged.
At the time, the Legislature was debating an oil-tax bill. Allen was looking for votes for a version of the bill supported by the oil industry and Cowdery, chairman of the Rules Committee, was helping.
I arrived at the courthouse just in time to see Cowdery flanked by family members, crossing C Street and heading in. The entrance was already covered by reporters from Channel 2, and our favorite independent journalist Dennis Zaki. The “Quote of the Day” happened right off the bat when Cowdery gestured at Zaki and said to his lawyer, “Kick this guy right in the nuts for the camera!” Ah, yes. Inciting others to commit violence on your behalf on the way to your own sentencing…way to gain public sympathy! I told Dennis later that he deserved some kind of super special award for that. Anyone that a convicted felon, and member of the “Corrupt Bastards Club” says ought to be kicked in the nuts is OK in my book. So Dennis Zaki, (please kneel) I bestow upon you the official Mudflats “Nuts of Iron” award for stick-to-it-iveness and bravery in the face of insults and threats of violence from corrupt politicians. (clap clap clap) You may now rise.
Cowdery was the first legislator in this corruption probe to plead guilty, which he did on December 19th. So, all that was left was the sentencing. It had already been decided that Cowdery’s ailing health and age meant that he would receive home confinement in lieu of incarceration, and an additional felony charge was dropped in exchange for his guilty plea. So he went in to this thing already a winner in many respects.
The prosecution pushed for a one year home confinement, and a $25,000 fine. We were reminded that Cowdery committed a “serious breach of public trust” and of his influential position in the Senate at the time as Chairman of the Rules Committee, and his role in attempts with Bill Allen former CEO of Veco to bribe “Senator A”.
Then the defense made its case. The string of excuses, and pleading for special consideration was so long, I’m sure I missed some of it. I was scribbling furiously and managed to come up with the following list of all the reasons John Cowdery is so special and so deserving of a shorter home confinement.
He is in very poor health.
He has doctors appointments WEEKLY.
He has physical therapy, including “water walking”
He has to drive himself to appointments
His wife has medical issues
She has weekly doctor’s appointments and can’t drive
She may have to have surgery in Seattle
Mr. Cowdery is the only one in the household who drives
Therefore, Your Honor, because of these “unique circumstances”, he deserves “special considerations” and the defense requests that the court “set up a workable home confinement situation” in which “the period should be shorter vs. longer.”
Without stopping to catch his breath, the defense attorney went on to explain, (now that we understand about why the home confinement should be only six months), why that $25,000 fine is just too darned high. The prosecution asked for the fine to equal the amount of the attempted bribery. Seemed karmically right to me. But the defense would have none of that. Here’s why.
They “understand the government logic of $25,000″ but think “it is factually and legally misplaced” because if you listen to the transcript of the taped conversations from the FBI, that caught the attempted bribery, you’ll see that $25,000 was actually the ceiling in terms of the bribery amount. They were hoping that Senator A would be bought off at $10,000 to $20,000, so therefore the $25,000 was just unreasonable as far as the defense is concerned.
And, yes, the defense conceded, Cowdery was able to pay that $25,000, but explained to the judge that the fine shouldn’t be based on his ability to pay, “but the backdrop of where his is in life” which meant that the lower amount was appropriate. Then the laundry list of specialness:
He has been the substantial provider in his family
He built his children’s homes
He would like to pay for the college education of his four great grandchildren
He is no longer a wage earner
It is unlikely he will ever earn a wage
He has income from leases and rentals, but his retirement has “taken a hit” in the current economy (Where’s my violin?)
The size of the fine will simply determine when he will have to rely on public assistance, which is a burden to the community and defeats the purpose.
So, I’m assuming that those great-grandchildren aren’t going to make it very far with their college education if this guy is about ready to go on public assistance. But it was fascinating, nonetheless, to watch the defense hurl out every possible excuse it could come up with.
Then the judge invited Cowdery to address the court. We waited with baited breath. A plea for leniency? A thank you to his family for standing by him? Dare we hope – an apology to the people of Alaska? Instead, “My attorney more or less said everything.” The judge reminded him that he had a right to speak before the sentence was handed down. Again, the moving emotional statement, “My attorney pretty much said it.” The judge tried again and asked, “Is there anything else?” (“Like an APOLOGY?” we were all thinking. The man did admit guilt, after all). “Nothing,” said Cowdery. Nice.
Here’s where I thought it was going to get good. The prosecution asked if former Senate candidate and notorious Alaska muckraker Ray Metcalfe would be allowed to speak. Metcalfe, as a private citizen, and one who had been affected in that capacity by Cowdery’s crime, wanted to speak a few words. I hadn’t noticed him, but there he was over on the other side of the courtroom decked out in a suit, but looking like he needed a good shave. Unfortunately, he wasn’t allowed to speak. It would have been good, I’m sure.
Then the sentencing. The judge called it a “tragic case” and weighed out the factors involved in his decision. Violation of the public trust is a significant crime. The public has a right to expect elected officials will be honest, and should be able to expect integrity. Power breeds temptation. We need an open and transparent government. “You were not innocent,” he said. “You knew what was going on and were willing to play along.” On the other hand, “you are not evil,” he said. He cited Cowdery’s record of public service, the fact that he had a family that loved him and supported him, and that he had made positive contributions to the community, which can’t be ignored. (I really wanted to stand and tell the court the “kick him in the nuts for the camera” story.) He pointed to the fact that this crime appeared to be an “isolated event” and not a “pattern of behavior”. (“That we KNOW of,” I thought).
The judge also cited the need to deter future acts of corruption, and lack of integrity, but noted that public disgrace is also a form of punishment. Then the judge dropped jaws by saying that considering Cowdery’s current health, ”it will be a miracle” if he lived to see the end of his probation anyway….adding quickly that he hoped he would. Ouch.
And finally, the sentence: 3 years probation, six months of home confinement, and a $25,000 fine. When announcing the amount of the fine, the judge assured the defense that he had indeed read the transcript, and that “we do need to punish” the crime. He then indicated that he picked a dollar amount above the guideline range “to get the message across that this will not be tolerated.” He then warned Cowdery to work with the probation officer “or you’ll be back here again for sentencing, which could result in prison time” and reminded him that any movement outside his home had to be pre-approved by his probation officer or he’d be in deep….doo-doo.
And that was it. The family looked pretty happy, all things considered. I thought about waiting until he was processed to ask him if he was sorry, but work called and I had to leave before he re-emerged from the bowels of the courthouse.
As I was leaving, I realized I hadn’t had my morning coffee yet. So, I stopped in at a local coffee shop for a quick Americano on my way to work, and what song should come on the radio? I kid you not. (hand on heart) I swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth… “Another One Bites the Dust,” by Queen.
Poetry is everywhere.
[You can see a photo of the infamous scoundrel on the Alaska Report, and a video HERE. Photos coming to Mudflats tomorrow courtesy of a Mudflatter who got some shots of the "before and after"]
Sir Dennis Zaki! this jammie clad blogger salutes you!
AKM, you forgot “Arise, Sir Zaki”. Can’t leave him kneeling with his nuts exposed…
Frankly, this sentence seems “about right”. Athough, also, too, I would have liked to have seen the house confinement be “for life”, as long as that might be. Bet he’s out of that wheelchair in no time!
I wish the judge would have commented on the defendants lack of remorse or apology. Cowdery had none. Even though he pled guilty, unlike Jim Clark, he didn’t accept responsibility.
For what it’s worth…Jim Clark, though not a legislator, is certainly a politician, and he was the first politician to plead guilty…AND, Clark apologized and accepted complete responsibility for his crime(s)…
Where’s Ben????
Another one bites the dust,,,???? Can we hope the line is getting closer to the Gino?
GINO…will do the reverse of line jumping, she let everyone in front of her – first – so that she’s last…OH CHERISH THE DAY!
The “Nuts of Iron” award! Awesome.
FROM AKM above
Then the sentencing. The judge called it a “tragic case” and weighed out the factors involved in his decision. Violation of the public trust is a significant crime. The public has a right to expect elected officials will be honest, and should be able to expect integrity. Power breeds temptation. We need an open and transparent government.
So does this mean the ice queen is waiting for her turn in court.
should I be jumping and clicking my heels together? how many more need to fall besides palin?
I’m reading ‘Last Bridge to Nowhere’ by J. Frank Prewitt, and Cowdery is in it.
Awesome. Congrats to Sir Dennis, Defender of the Yukon, Nuts of Iron, Exposer…oh wait, maybe not that phrase. (heh heh)
Must rush out to replenish my popcorn stock- and I need a program to keep track of those defeated and who’s next in line on “As the Wheel of Justice Turns”, new soap based in Alaska.
He is the only driver in the family….give me a break…after watching the video his wife looks like she is in pretty good shape.
What is it with these old white dudes and their wheelchairs? Cheney and Cowdrey, boo hoo.
He wants to pay for his great grandchildren’s college? Helloooo? I don’t know about up there, but $25,000 doesn’t pay for Diddly Squat Community College ’round heah.
mhrt (19:22:33) :
after watching the video his wife looks like she is in pretty good shape.
++++++++++++++++++++++
water walking?
isn’t that what Joan Benoit did back in the day for training before she won the olympic women’s marathon?
3 years probation. big frikken deal. and he needs permission of his probation officer? even bigger frikken deal. not much different than bernie madoff getting house arrest to his mansion. shoulda stuck his skank butt into the state pen.
as he stands up tall and strides out of the courtroom, leaving his wheelchair prop sitting there at the defense table like a park bench bolted to the sidewalk…
AKM, I do believe there is not going to be much slack time for you in Alaska for maybe the next millenium or so.
I’m disappointed. I think any convicted politician should serve time in jail. He could have regular doctor checkups there; his wife would have to do what other non-drivers do–ask friends for help. The judge sounds like a cream puff to me. : (
No wonder there are so many corrupt politicians, the punishment is comical and too lenient. Maybe the judge should grow a pair and maybe one day he can win the “The Nuts of Iron Award”. Probably not. Just saying….
I don’t think this is off topic because I feel certain there has been money changing hands. Gino says the State’s hands are tied in regards to helping the villages but can’t the State make sure the laws are enforced? There must be something I don’t know or understand because it seems to me a quick and simple solution would be to allow the First Alaskans to fish first for all of the salmon they want and then let the commercial fisherman come in. Right? What is the problem with that?
http://alaskareport.com/news39/x71124_seafood_players.htm
Hm, really is too bad that Senator A didn’t exactly get caught in all this…
Dr. Patois (21:05:46) :
it seems to me a quick and simple solution would be to allow the First Alaskans to fish first for all of the salmon they want and then let the commercial fisherman come in. Right? What is the problem with that?
I believe the commercial catch operates in the ocean before the salmon runs move up the rivers where subsistence occurs. Can someone from western Alaska confirm?
@AKaurora (22:52:13) :
Not from Western AK, but that is the case. For the commercial fishers to make any $, they have to get the fish while they’re still “bright”, which is when they’re in the ocean. Once they hit the rivers they start to darken.
What did Dennis do to so disgust COWdery? Whatever it was, it must be good! Way to go Dennis. I would much rather he want to kick you (or someone do it for him) than have him want to kiss your hand as I’m sure he’s done for Queen Palin of Alaska.
Congrats on your Mudflats Knighthood!
Cowdery’s behaviour, both to Mr. Dennis Zaki outside the courtroom, his lack of remorse or apology sounds an awful lot like someone else we know!
Look, it’s not like these people don’t have anything of their own when they decide to rip off everyone else. It’s worse than even a personal mugging from someone who MAY need food because we KNOW these morons are eating just fine. They aren’t have-nots, they are wanna-have-mores and I’m sick and tired of the lot of ‘em. Their moral fiber, if it exists at all, is weak and they were never in the correct occupation, just like someone else we know! Same outcome? We can jolly well keep working on that one. You betcha.
I won’t mention the name, nickname or even initials while the Iditarod is on! Go racers!
OT but GINO meltdown time; “Booooo Hoooooo! Even the Republicans are agin me now” squits Flailin’ Palin as the Leg meet her attempts to bully, bulldoze and generally strong-arm them into “flash-fry” action and to approve her crackpot and ever increasingly greasy “jobs for the boys” and “Simon says (or else I’ll find a way for PAYBACK)” schemes.
The Leg have responded to her refusal to entertain a special session to consider these not inconsiderably lengthy proposals with a resounding “we will not be railroaded by your introduction of said projects by you’re a) entering them late, despite having banged on about them for ages and b) thinking you’re the de facto Queen of Alaska. Anyway, even if the Leg approved it, it isn’t exactly shovel-ready is it? Brian’s moose doings are more shovel-ready than GINO’s half-baked cookie (did anyone get sick?) schemes.
GINO – if I were reading tealeaves – even frozen ones – I’d say your moose is cooked – this is a collective vote of NO CONFIDENCE. Resign, resign, resign, resign… and try not to “pardon” any more turkeys on your way out.
http://www.adn.com/news/government/legislature/story/718214.html
Go Dennis – balls of steel
Go Mudpups – keep them real
Hey Cowdery – how’s it feel?
Cowpat in yer eye you heel.
I’m still chuckling over the “nuts of iron” award.
Go Dennis!!!
Instead of a perp walk , it sounds like it was a cakewalk……..with no remorse shown – if I was the judge , as soon as the tale of woe started , I would’ve said “You know what they say in Russia ??”……….”Tuff sh**sky!!”
Irishgirl – Are you near Dublin ?? The reason I ask is that Jamesons whiskey is putting on a St. Paddy’s day party for radio personalities from around the world and 2 guys from here are going. They will be broadcasting live from Dublin.
Oh – like to see Cowdery talk that smack in prison……..he’d be someone’s b***h real quick !! Does he have to wear a monitoring bracelet ??
@austintx,
Yes, I’m in Dublin. Have you any more details on that?
OT : Slacker Sarah -
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/138993
Irishgirl – It appears to be a big deal. Some lassies came to the studio from Jamesons and spoke on air about the festivties. Each “team” from around the world is to submit a cocktail recipe with the main ingredient being Jamesons….some of the entrys I’ve heard on the air are …uh …pretty rank. Does Jamesons have a web page ?? I’m sure it’s on there if they do. Be a cool way to meet people from around the world right in your hometown. “Our” guys are funny as hell !!
I’d break out my crying towel but, Cowdery is the one who didn’t seem to care about what would happened to himself or his family if he got caught. And he obviously didn’t care about the public, if his crooked deal went through. To a large extent, it sounds like he would be less of a burden to his family if he went to prison and received medical treatment there.
OT goss
http://www.ktva.com/ci_11437597?source=most_viewed
Good morning! OT but I think you will enjoy this. It is a good way to start the day–along with Mudflats of course. (I hope this link works.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1fiubmOqH4
You go, Dennis Zaki, recently awarded the coveted “Nuts of Iron” Medal. Alaska needs and is blessed to have an investigative reporter of your caliber.
Thanks, AKM.
Slowly but surely, we are going to rid ourselves of all the corrupt bastards in government across this country. Hear that, Saxby?
O.M.G. All that before coffee? I bow to your greatness.
Lance the Boil: If Saxby didn’t hear your message, I’ll forward it to him! It’s a shame the way he campaigned against Max Cleland in the 2002 election. I believe it was John McCain who called one of his ads “reprehensible”. What’s bad, is that we’ll have to wait 5-6 more years to vote him out.
New thread. Update from Ann.
sir dennis zaki. works for me….love b
I think he should of got prison time…too old for prison? HEH! That wheelchair was a prop. He sounded like a pull string doll, “its a nice day”
When (Dennis?) asked him “how does it feel to be a convicted felon?” I was waiting for him to say “its a nice day” instead he just licked his lips and coughed, ewwwwwwwww! gross! At least he will have to pay the money but I think if they are too old for jail, maybe they are too old to be politicians?
“must be a slow news day” what a bastard!
You go Dennis!
Our nation needs a moral reallignment. If some young women gets convicted of the very minor crime of pot possession, she will be thrown in jail even if she the sole caretaker of minor children. The state will actually put the kids in foster care, just so Mom can go sit in jail for six months to a year. This happens all of the time. But some rich old guy who is guilty of the far worse crime of violating his oath of office is supposed to get special treatment because his old and sick! Why do our judges view political and white collar crimes that are done out of greed and that often hurt thousands, if not millions of people as not something worthy of punishment regardless of the criminals personal circumstances. Yet they have no trouble throwing the book at indivduals guilty of much less serious crimes, like petty theft and drug possession? I bet its because they can imagine themselves committing the former crimes and not the latter.