Mr. Lopez,
Yesterday the US Attorney’s office came down with 11 indictments against prominent members of El Paso’s political community. Everyone knew all day long that it was going to be one of the biggest stories of the year. Knowing that, one would think that you would have taken the time to make sure that your usual shoddy product, with fact mistakes, typos, names misspelled, inaccurate quotes, etc., would not be the order of the day today. One would think that you would know the difference between the lawyers and the accused. Nope. That is too tall of an order for you.

On page 11A, you have a list of “players” referring to the accused and on top of the description which includes the words, “charged with fraud, racketeering,” you have lawyer Sib Abraham’s picture, who is not accused of anything. He represents an accused person. Now you have published to the world that Sib Abraham is an alleged criminal, mug shot and all.

Nice slander suit you may have there. I wonder what corporate would think?

But you have been warned over and over again. Last year you and your reporter Darren Meritz, mishandled another one of Mr. Abraham’s stories, the Kuchle case. You published that Mr. Kuchle was involved in the drug violence in Juarez when that was not the case AT ALL. A lawyer from Mexico City had to call you to correct your wrong and damaging publication.

You are a menace.

We have to write you about your terrible mistakes and your lies. This week a district court judge did.

You and Marty Schladen were the butts of criticism on the radio, again, yesterday for your protective coverage of Veronica Escobar.

When are you going to buckle down and run the shop correctly, starting with being there and then hiring talent. On a major news day, you were out to dinner with your family instead being at the paper burning the midnight oil, making sure things were done correctly. Not you. Steak first, facts second.

Theresa Caballero
Stuart Leeds