John Joe Cowdery (February 11, 1930 – July 13, 2013) was a Republican member of the Alaska Senate, representing the O District from 2001 through 2008.
[2] In 2008 Cowdery was indicted on charges of conspiracy and bribery for his actions in attempting to bribe another senator, Donny Olsen, to support a proposal, favored by executives in Alaska's oil industry, concerning oil leases and petroleum production taxes.
Olson was the only Democratic legislator known to have been offered an illegal bribe, and the only officeholder who turned it down.
[3][4] In 2009 Cowdery was sentenced to six months in home confinement and fined $25,000.
[5] In January 2008, in poor health and under investigation, he indicated that he would decline to file for reelection.