Defendants Have Had Enough Help

After reading the July 17 article, “Board Raises Cap on Ex-Official’s Legal Fees,” one has to ask the question: When is the individual responsible for defense of his own actions, and when is the government responsible?

The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted to increase the amount of funds available to former officials of Orange County accused of bankruptcy-related misdeeds at the expense of taxpayers who continue to pay for the errors of once trusted officials.

It is adding insult to injury to continue to approve funding of their defense. As taxpayers, we have a right to ask: When does it end? Instead of hiring the biggest law firms, with high fees, why can’t these former public officials use public defenders? After all, it is our tax dollars that pay for their salaries as well.

CARLENE BASKEVITCH

Irvine

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Enough already! $300,000 more! Maybe another $1 million. As the passenger on the Titanic said when she hit the iceberg, “Steward, I asked for ice, but this is ridiculous!”

Where is it going to end?

The Board of Supervisors again raised the ante on legal fees for the defendants in the Orange Country bankruptcy case. Two defendants, Roger Stanton and William Steiner, are sitting supervisors voting in their own self-interest.

Has no one, except Marian Bergeson, any sense of honesty and decency? No!

Has anyone thought that by selectively awarding legal fees to some defendants and denying fees to others, the Board of Supervisors is laying a foundation for an appeal by Robert Citron and Matthew Raabe? It sure looks like discrimination to me. By what authority does the board pick and choose?

Please talk to Marian Bergeson and listen to her good counsel. As it is, we will be paying off the bankruptcy for the next 30 years, $1.4 billion plus $888,000 interest and $40 million in consultant and attorney fees.

Enough already!

WILLIAM A. DOUGHERTY

Villa Park