Former U.S. ambassador, subprime mortgage pioneer dies

[tpsbmam]

Source: ABC News

Roland Arnall, founder of subprime pioneer Ameriquest Mortgage Co, died of cancer on Monday morning in Los Angeles, his family said in a statement.

A major political donor with a net worth estimated by Forbes magazine at $1.5 billion, Arnall faced opposition from Senate Democrats to his 2005 confirmation as ambassador to the Hague after accusations that his company had preyed on mortgage seekers with subprime credit.

In January 2006, Ameriquest agreed to pay $325 million to settle predatory lending investigations by state attorneys general throughout the United States.

The company admitted no wrongdoing and agreed to several reforms, and Arnall was confirmed later that year.

The allegations against Ameriquest were not the first to surface in connection with an Arnall-owned business.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=4469456

[BB1]

1. He was Ambassador here.

I still suspect him of doing dirty deals with our 'elected leaders'. He sure wasn't happy about Pim Fortuyn (the one-time Prime Minister to be) saying NO to the JSF-plane. His NO would have cost the US 10 billion dollars. And we're just a small country.

Three weeks later, Pim Fortuyn was shot. Probably not over the JSF, because the shooter was a lone gunman, an animals rights activist of a sort. Nonetheless, within a week the contract for the JSF got signed.

The death of our new Prime Minister, only nine days from General Elections, did not even stop the elections. Could that happen in the US as well? Clinton, Obama or McCain getting shot to death, and the elections still running?
(Duh, Bart, of course not. It's a two-party-deal there. Dumbass. Sorry:))

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Did he suffer?

:evilfrown:

[underpants]

3. "gave to both sides" let's see what we can find

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048 US STATE DEPARTMENT $2,000 MCCONNELL SENATE COMMITTEE '08 - REPUBLICAN P 02/28/2006
http://www.campaignmoney.com/finance.asp?type=in&cycle=06&criteria=Arnall

US Ambassador to the Netherlands (2006-08)
Ameriquest Founder and CEO (1979-2006)
Americans for Truth in Politics
Bush-Cheney '04
Friends of Katherine Harris
Bush Pioneer 2004 Ranger
http://www.nndb.com/people/152/000120789/

Arnall and his wife, Dawn, were longtime, generous political contributors, giving to both parties, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Since 2002, Arnall had given campaign contributions to California politicians including Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In the 2003-2005 period, Arnall and his wife raised more than $12 million for George W. Bush's political efforts, including $5 million for the Progress for America Voter Fund, a self-proclaimed "conservative issue advocacy organization dedicated to keeping the issue record straight."

Mrs. Arnall also served as a co-chair for the 2004 Republican Convention and hosted a $1 million Bush-Cheney fund-raiser at the couple's 10-acre home in Holmby Hills. After Bush was reelected, the Arnalls contributed another $750,000 for inaugural balls in January 2005.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Arnall

http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/qind/

Non-Federal Receipts "Exempt From Limits"

ARNALL, ROLAND E
ORANGE, CA 92868
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL

DNC-NON-FEDERAL INDIVIDUAL
10/06/2000 360000.00 20036392200

ARNALL, ROLAND E. MR.
ORANGE, CA 92868
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL

DNC-NON-FEDERAL INDIVIDUAL
06/25/2002 250000.00 22991355364

Total Soft Money: 610000.00


Contributions to Political Committees

ARNALL, ROLAND
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90210
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORP

LANTOS, TOM
VIA TOM LANTOS FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
12/16/1997 1000.00 98032813697

ARNALL, ROLAND
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90212
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL ASSOC

LIEBERMAN, JOSEPH I
VIA FRIENDS OF JOE LIEBERMAN
12/29/1999 1000.00 20020050978
12/29/1999 1000.00 20020050978
12/29/1999 2000.00 20020050978

ARNALL, ROLAND
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90212
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORPORATION

KERRY, JOHN FORBES
VIA KERRY COMMITTEE
06/30/1999 1000.00 99020083559

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90024
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORP./CHAIRMAN

LANTOS, TOM
VIA TOM LANTOS FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
04/25/2003 2000.00 23991364412
04/25/2003 2000.00 23991364411

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048

CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY/V8
06/17/2005 -10000.00 25970718885

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL

FEINSTEIN, DIANNE
VIA FEINSTEIN FOR SENATE
05/27/2002 1000.00 22020561557

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORP./EXECUTI

PAC TO THE FUTURE
06/07/2002 5000.00 22991280236

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORP./CHAIRMAN

CARDOZA, DENNIS
VIA CARDOZA FOR CONGRESS
04/02/2002 1000.00 22991397910
06/24/2002 1000.00 22992255076

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORPORATION/CO

COSTA, JIM MR.
VIA JIM COSTA FOR CONGRESS
02/02/2004 2000.00 24990534385

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL/CHAIR

CARDIN, BENJAMIN L
VIA BEN CARDIN FOR SENATE
03/21/2006 2100.00 26020992517

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048
AMERIQUEST CORPORATION/CHAIRMAN

HARRIS, KATHERINE
VIA FRIENDS OF KATHERINE HARRIS
06/04/2004 2000.00 24961791431
06/04/2004 2000.00 24961791431

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048
US STATE DEPARTMENT

MCCONNELL, MITCH
VIA MCCONNELL SENATE COMMITTEE '08
02/28/2006 2000.00 26020171690

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90077
AMERICAQUEST CAPITAL CORP./CHAIRM

GERLACH, JIM
VIA JIM GERLACH FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
11/01/2004 437.00 25970180245

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90077
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORPORATION

FORTENBERRY, JEFF
VIA JEFF FORTENBERRY FOR UNITED STATES CONGRESS
10/15/2004 437.00 24981715494

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90077
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORPORATION/CH

GOHMERT, LOUIE
VIA LOUIE GOHMERT FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
10/20/2004 437.00 24991320271

ARNALL, ROLAND
ORANGE, CA 92868
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORP

LANTOS, TOM
VIA TOM LANTOS FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
09/26/2000 1000.00 20036183047

ARNALL, ROLAND
ORANGE, CA 92868
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORP./CHAIRMAN

LANTOS, TOM
VIA TOM LANTOS FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
06/15/2001 1000.00 21990247950

ARNALL, ROLAND
ORANGE, CA 92868
AMERIQUEST CAPITOL CORP./CO-CHAIR

SWETT, KATRINA
VIA KATRINA SWETT FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
06/30/2002 1000.00 22992537854
06/30/2002 1000.00 22992537854

ARNALL, ROLAND E
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90210
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORP

BERMAN, HOWARD L
VIA BERMAN FOR CONGRESS
01/26/1998 1000.00 98032990013
01/26/1998 1000.00 98032990013

HAHN, JANICE K
VIA HAHN FOR CONGRESS
07/06/1998 500.00 98033670501
10/28/1998 500.00 98034094551

ARNALL, ROLAND E
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90212

CARPER, THOMAS R
VIA CARPER FOR SENATE
08/04/2000 2000.00 20020262402

ARNALL, ROLAND E
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90212
AMERIQUEST

HARMAN, JANE
VIA FRIENDS OF JANE HARMAN
03/02/2000 1000.00 20035453363

ARNALL, ROLAND E
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90212
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORP

CARPER, THOMAS R
VIA CARPER FOR SENATE
08/26/2000 -1000.00 20020311631

ARNALL, ROLAND E
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORPORATION/CO

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
06/04/2004 10000.00 24961960114

ARNALL, ROLAND E
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL/CO-CHAIRMAN

SANCHEZ, LORETTA
VIA COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT LORETTA SANCHEZ
03/02/2004 2000.00 24991073584

ARNALL, ROLAND E
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048
AMERIQUEST CAPITOL CORP

REID, HARRY
VIA FRIENDS FOR HARRY REID
04/30/2003 1000.00 23020280433

ARNALL, ROLAND E MR.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90212
AMERIQUEST/CO-CHAIR

HARMAN, JANE
VIA FRIENDS OF JANE HARMAN
02/10/2004 2000.00 24990529863

ARNALL, ROLAND E MR.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL/CHAIRMAN

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
10/22/2004 10000.00 24981662451
10/22/2004 15000.00 24981662451

ARNALL, ROLAND E MR.
ORANGE, CA 92868
AMERIQUEST/CO-CHAIR

BUSH, GEORGE W
VIA BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC
09/25/2003 2000.00 23992050470

ARNALL, ROLAND E.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90212
AMERIQUEST/CO-CHAIR

HARMAN, JANE
VIA FRIENDS OF JANE HARMAN
10/09/2001 1000.00 22990338350

ARNALL, ROLAND E.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORP./CHAIRMAN

L A PAC
05/29/2002 2500.00 22991144374

ARNALL, ROLAND E.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048
LONG BEACH FINANCIAL SERVICES CO.

SHERMAN, BRAD MR
VIA SHERMAN FOR CONGRESS
04/23/2004 1000.00 24961842648

ARNALL, ROLAND E. MR.
ORANGE, CA 92868
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORPORATION/CO

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
03/21/2003 10000.00 23990774197

ARNALL, ROLAND MR.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048
AMERIQUEST MORTGAGE/CO-CHAIRMAN O

ROYCE, ED MR
VIA ED ROYCE FOR CONGRESS
08/26/2002 1000.00 22992120266

ARNALL, ROLAND MR.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90077
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORPORATION

BUSH, GEORGE W
VIA BUSH-CHENEY '04 COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE INC.
10/20/2004 2000.00 24991341348

ARNALL, ROLAND MR.
ORANGE, CA 92868
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL/CEO

DAVIS, ARTUR G
VIA COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT ARTUR DAVIS TO CONGRESS, THE
06/20/2002 1000.00 22991392389

Total Contributions: 88911.00

Joint Fundraising Contributions

These are contributions to committees who are raising funds to be distributed to other committees. The breakdown of these contributions to their final recipients may appear below

ARNALL, ROLAND E
LOS ANGELES, CA 90048
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORPORATION

COLORADO SENATE 2002
03/29/2002 2000.00 22020210986

ARNALL, ROLAND MR.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90077
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORPORATION/CH

2004 JOINT CANDIDATE COMMITTEE II
10/20/2004 9500.00 24991352005
10/20/2004 10000.00 24991352005

2004 JOINT STATE VICTORY COMMITTEE
10/20/2004 2500.00 24991352130

Total Joint Fundraising: 24000.00

Recipient of Joint Fundraiser Contributions

These are the Final Recipients of Joint Fundraising Contributions

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90077
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORP

TAUZIN, WILBERT J III
VIA TAUZIN FOR CONGRESS
10/20/2004 437.00 25980320865

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90077
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORP.

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF FLORIDA
10/20/2004 401.00 25990817728

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90077
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORPORATI

COBURN, THOMAS A
VIA COBURN FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
10/25/2004 1458.00 25020500734

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90077
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORPORATIO

PORTER, JON SR
VIA PORTER FOR CONGRESS
11/02/2004 437.00 24991458472

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90077
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORPORATION

BOUSTANY, CHARLES DR. JR.
VIA CHARLES BOUSTANY JR MD FOR CONGRESS INC
10/20/2004 437.00 25990075380
BURR, RICHARD M
VIA RICHARD BURR COMMITTEE
10/23/2004 1458.00 24021092182
COBURN, THOMAS A
VIA COBURN FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
10/25/2004 1458.00 25020100612
KOBACH, KRIS
VIA KOBACH FOR CONGRESS
10/20/2004 437.00 25990841982
POE, TED
VIA POE FOR CONGRESS
11/02/2004 437.00 27930462802
REICHERT, DAVE
VIA FRIENDS OF DAVE REICHERT
10/20/2004 437.00 24991327406
SWALLOW, JOHN
VIA JOHN SWALLOW FOR CONGRESS INC.
10/20/2004 437.00 24981549147
WALCHER, GREGORY EDWARD
VIA AMERICANS FOR TRUTH IN POLITICS
10/20/2004 438.00 24991463431

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90077
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORPORATION/CH

DAVIS, GEOFFREY C
VIA GEOFF DAVIS FOR CONGRESS
11/02/2004 437.00 25980383385

ARNALL, ROLAND
LOS ANGELES, CA 90077
AMERIQUEST CAPTIAL CORP

WOHLGEMUTH, ARLENE MRS
VIA WOHLGEMUTH FOR CONGRESS
10/18/2004 437.00 24981612671

ARNALL, ROLAND MR
LOS ANGELES, CA 90077
AMERIQUEST

OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY STATE CENTRAL & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
10/25/2004 297.00 25980488268

ARNALL, ROLAND MR
LOS ANGELES, CA 90077
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORP

DIEDRICH, LARRY WILLIAM
VIA DIEDRICH FOR CONGRESS
11/22/2004 437.00 24981564835

ARNALL, ROLAND MR
LOS ANGELES, CA 90077
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORPORATION

NAPLES, NANCY A
VIA NANCY NAPLES FOR CONGRESS
10/15/2004 437.00 24981603400

ARNALL, ROLAND MR.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90077
AMERIQUEST CAPITAL CORPORATION

ASHBURN, ROY
VIA ASHBURN CONGRESS COMMITTEE
10/29/2004 437.00 24981728964
BOUSTANY, CHARLES DR. JR.
VIA LA 07 CONGRESSIONAL VICTORY COMMITTEE
10/20/2004 437.00 25990051283
RENZI, RICHARD G.
VIA RICK RENZI FOR CONGRESS
10/20/2004 437.00 25990373048
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WISCONSIN
10/19/2004 148.00 24981711358
TAUZIN, WILBERT J III
VIA LA 03 CONGRESSIONAL VICTORY COMMITTEE
10/20/2004 437.00 25990189917

Recipient Total: 12213.00

TRY A: NEW QUERY
RETURN TO: FEC HOME PAGE

[saigon68]

4. his company had preyed on mortgage seekers

RIP Hope its "toasty" there

[flashl]

5. Maybe these homeowners should be at the reading of his will?

Many homeowners still trapped in Ameriquest loans

Foreclosure possible even for those with fraudulent mortgage terms

In the fall of 2005, well before the mortgage meltdown hit, Roland Arnall was trying to become an ambassador.

President George W. Bush had nominated the founder of California-based Ameriquest Mortgage to head the U.S. Embassy in the Netherlands. But some in the U.S. Senate questioned whether Arnall was the right choice.

With the pressure on, Arnall's company agreed early in 2006 to a $325 million settlement with the states. Within a few weeks, the Senate blessed Arnall's nomination, clearing the way for the self-made billionaire to pack his bags for the Netherlands.

The settlement was hailed as a significant victory for consumers. But as it turns out, it did very little to ease the huge financial hit experienced by thousands of Americans still trapped in Ameriquest loans.

The settlement offered Ameriquest homeowners a token payment.

For homeowners stuck with fraudulent Ameriquest mortgages, the government's settlement offered no revision of the terms of the loans.

Consumer advocates say that Ameriquest customers at risk of foreclosure have great difficulty winning modifications to their mortgages now, even though the Bush administration has encouraged lenders to make reasonable changes to keep families in their homes.

AJC