How Did Argyros Pass So Easily on Hearing?

Re “Panel Is Expected to OK Argyros,” Oct. 31:

So how is it that a camel as large and visible as George L. Argyros can slip through the eye of the political needle?

I initially read your coverage of Argyros’ hearing for the ambassadorship of Spain with bemusement. I could not understand why this man was not asked a single substantive question. After all, Argyros and his company, Arnel Management, were the focus of one of the most controversial investigations initiated by the Orange County district attorney’s office in the last two years.

Arnel Management allegedly bilked hundreds of low-income renters out of hundreds of thousands of dollars and paid out $1.5 million to make the case go away. Did this not, at a minimum, raise the specter of unethical conduct? Were these circumstances too insufficient to at least probe the depth of integrity in the candidate?

The answer was never made more apparent than when you reported that our Sen. Barbara Boxer, who sits on the very committee that reviews such prospective appointees, did not even attend the hearing.

Edward R. Munoz

Santa Ana

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Who says money can’t buy happiness? It can certainly buy you an ambassadorship and an eventual airport (El Toro), no matter how unethical your business practices are. Unbelievable.

Daisy Drucker

Laguna Hills