Clashing Verdicts on Election Probe

* We have recently passed the one-year anniversary of the Nov. 5, 1996, election. Yet the investigations into allegations of voter fraud in the 46th Congressional District continue to spin on.

That these allegations, with their attendant rancor, have caused divisiveness and discord in the community cannot reasonably be denied. Likewise, few would dispute that given the length of time devoted to the investigation, closure is necessary and overdue.

It now appears that the Orange County Grand Jury may become the first investigative body to conclude its review and issue findings. Though many seek closure of the investigative phase, caution is required. There is no doubt that if the citizen rights group Hermandad Mexicana Nacional is shown to have intentionally violated our laws, appropriate charges will be brought.

However, given the nature and extent of the biased media coverage of this story and the partisan political interests staked to the outcome, it would be naive to ignore the temptation to return a face-saving indictment if it were shown that criminal intent was absent in the conduct of Hermandad Mexicana Nacional.

Indeed, an indictment on less serious, more technical charges, or one brought against marginal, clearly peripheral individuals, would not only be viewed as face-saving and not decisive, but would also serve to perpetuate the controversy without apparent end.

It is hoped that an atmosphere exists which would allow, if the evidence presented dictates, that no indictments be returned, but constructive recommendations and even admonishments be provided to avoid a repetition of the apparent mistakes made.

JOHN PALACIO

Santa Ana

* Something big is happening right here in our own Orange County, and it has something to do with voter fraud. The most politically naive now realize the Democratic Party appears scared to death of the results of the Dornan/Sanchez voter fraud investigation.

Democrats are continually refusing to cooperate with the House Oversight Committee investigating the issue.

Democrats in the House have been intentionally slowing down federal proceedings in a manipulative attempt to have the committee drop its investigation.

When that failed, Democrats offered a bribe by House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) saying he would support a broader voter fraud probe if Republicans dropped the case against Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove). Wow, the top guns are all involved!

Will the Republicans cave in to the pressures being applied by Democrats or will they stand firm? Who knows? Somewhere in this political battle the voters should be considered. Don’t we deserve to know if our vote counted in that election?

MARY ANN OLSON

Anaheim

* Almost every summer since 1993, our 20-year-old Latino leadership group, Los Amigos of Orange County, has been offering constructive criticism of the Orange County Grand Jury.

We prod it to recognize when it is being used as a political football. The trend was clear even then: going along with partisan pressures to go after the foreign-born newcomer.

None of the grand juries wants dialogue. This is odd. They become very upset when branches of local government seem unresponsive to their views.

If Chief Massasoit, who led 90 Americans to the first Thanksgiving, had also brought along his grand jury, would things have turned out differently for those early immigrants? And for this nation of immigrants?

AMIN DAVID

Chair

Los Amigos of Orange County