Senate Republican Minority Caucus Reacts to Indictment
Charges Reflect Badly on Institution

Juneau — The Senate Republican Minority Caucus expressed disappointment at the news today that a sitting legislator has been indicted on federal charges of bribery and conspiracy in the ongoing public corruption investigation surrounding the 2006 PPT and SGDA Natural Gas Pipeline debate.

“The news today of the indictment of a sitting Alaska State Senator is extremely disturbing. This latest development adds to the complexity the Legislature faces to regain the public’s trust and confidence as we forge ahead in making one of the most important public policy decisions in the State’s history,” said Senate Minority Leader Gene Therriault, R-North Pole.

Recognizing that during the 2008 legislative session deliberations would again take place over a proposal for a Natural Gas Pipeline, the Republican Minority Senators sent a private letter to Sen. John Cowdery in December. The letter again expressed grave concern over his continued leadership position in the Senate. All five Minority members urged Sen. Cowdery to resign his Senate seat prior to the January session in the interest of protecting the integrity of the Legislative Branch and the 32,000 constituents of Senate District O.

As discomforting as today’s development is, members of the Senate Republican Minority firmly believe that the ongoing federal investigation and jury trials will help to reinforce that no person is above the law. We believe that through this process the public’s trust will be restored with a Legislature that all Alaskans can and will be proud of.

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