Quackenbush Scandal

Bill Whalen’s article (“I Know Chuck Quackenbush, and He’s No Bill Clinton,” Commentary, May 25) misses the central point of the current Quackenbush scandal. Strong circumstantial evidence indicates the Insurance Commission in general and the commissioner in particular were helping insurance companies avoid paying legitimate claims to their insureds in return for “donations” to a tax-exempt charity or charities that did not direct any funds to the intended beneficiaries. Criminal convictions are routinely won on the logical inferences drawn from such fact patterns.

While other elected officials have undoubtedly given regulatory breaks to corporate campaign contributors, the depth and breadth of the current situation is unique. Hundreds, if not thousands, of policyholders had earthquake claims denied because either the insurance commissioner or subordinates acting on his behalf and for his benefit were effectively bought out by their carriers. And now the same can be said of Holocaust insurance beneficiaries.

The Democrats’ attack is certainly partisan. That does not automatically mean it is without merit. If Quackenbush did not directly commit, authorize or condone what appears to be simple mass extortion and tax fraud (the tax-exempt status of his foundations is certain to be revoked), he then proved himself to be uniquely incompetent in not seeing it happening until it was way too late. Granted, he might survive an impeachment. Hopefully he won’t survive a recall. Republicans have to rise above the partisanship and pressure the insurance commissioner to go.

THOMAS P. COTREL

Burbank

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On advice from his attorney that he avoid a “political ambush,” Quackenbush refused to testify before a Senate committee looking into the Northridge earthquake insurance situation (May 23). Is he sure the attorney, a criminal defense specialist, didn’t mean “self-incrimination”?

JOAN A. MAGGS

Granada Hills