ORANGE COUNTY IN BANKRUPTCY : WHAT THEY SAID

Dec. 21, 1994: “I do not believe he was just a lieutenant responding on the directions of the captain. I came away with the feeling that he was as much a part of the scheme or proposal as his boss was.” (Edward H. Decker, a Newport-Mesa school board member who met with Raabe in April, 1994)

Feb. 3: “I think there’s some perjury. I think that Leifer [Jeff Leifer, financial consultant] perjured himself. I think [Raabe] did too. What I’m looking for is some lying.” (State Sen. Quentin L. Kopp (I-San Francisco), special committee member, in response to Raabe’s Jan. 17 testimony before special Senate committee hearing)

Feb. 14: “Mr. Raabe is ducking. He probably doesn’t want to be around, and I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t want to either. I think he’s in trouble.” (Sen. Rob Hurtt (R-Garden Grove), special committee member, in response to Raabe evading committee subpoena)

Feb. 26: “I think that it is not going to be possible for him to regain the public’s trust in his position.” (Thomas E. Daxon, interim county treasurer, upon the decision to fire Raabe)

April 27, 1995: “With the assistance of Matthew Raabe . . . I misappropriated in excess of $80 million of earned interest belonging to participants in the Orange County treasury pool to and for the benefit of the County of Orange.” (Former County Treasurer-Tax Collector Robert L. Citron, pleading guilty to misappropriating public funds)

April 28: “Citron is being less than honorable in now trying to lay out Matt, who did nothing but hard work. He was just doing what he was told.” (Gary M. Pohlson, Raabe’s attorney, in response to Citron implicating Raabe in the bond crisis)