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Bob Joseph/WNBF News [April 16,2012][/caption]State senator Thomas Libous had asked the state ethics panel to act quickly on a complaint against him filed by Binghamton mayor Matthew Ryan.

But a year after Ryan mailed the formal complaint to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, no information is available about the status of the agency's review of the matter.

In May, Libous acknowledged he had received confirmation from the commission that it had received the complaint.

But Libous spokesman Emmanuel Priest told WNBF News the senator has heard nothing regarding the status of the matter.

Commission spokesman John Milgrim Monday afternoon said he cannot comment on any confidential matter that may or may not be under investigation.

On WNBF's Binghamton Now program last week, Ryan said he did not know what, if anything, was occurring in connection with his complaint.

Ryan wanted the ethics commission to look into allegations that Libous may have used political influence in connection with a job his son had at a Westchester County law firm

Last week, the mayor said "JCOPE is a very secretive organization."

Ryan said it was his understanding that if a complaint was determined to be unfounded, the commission would notify him and Libous.

Ryan said "they haven't notified me." He said he was sure that if Libous was told he was exonerated by JCOPE, he "would have a press conference."

The mayor said he had a telephone conversation with someone at the commission a few weeks ago who indicated there was "an ongoing investigation."

Ryan declined to identify the person who told him the investigation was continuing.

The mayor said he initiated the contact because he wanted to know the status of the complaint he submitted.

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