From Sean Cockerham in Juneau --

The Legislative Ethics Committee has finally released a ruling that, shockingly enough, concludes that convicted former state Sen. John Cowdery violated state ethics rules as well as criminal law when he conspired with Bill Allen to try and bribe Sen. Donny Olson.

The legislative ethics committee didn't recommend any penalties for Cowdery, saying his federal bribery conviction and sentence to serve six months in home confinement and pay a fine of $25,000 was enough punishment.

The legislative ethics committee took its sweet time: the ethics complaint against Cowdery was filed back in August 2008, following his federal indictment. Cowdery pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in federal court in December 2008 and was sentenced in March.

The committee members decided to wait until after the federal case was over and apparently just now got around to wrapping up what is pretty much a formality at this point. The committee used Cowdery's guilty plea in federal court as evidence he did indeed conspire to bribe in violation of the ethics code.

The records show the committee discussed the matter during its meetings on Aug. 19, 2008, Nov. 19, 2009 and Jan, 5, 2010.

No word on who filed the complaint.