February 21, 2008

Ambassador Roland Arnall has tendered his resignation as Ambassador of the United States to the Netherlands to President Bush, effective March 7, 2008. 

This was a difficult decision and one Ambassador Arnall made only after careful consideration.  In 2006, his son Daniel was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Unfortunately, although initial treatment appeared to be effective, Daniel has had a relapse. 

Ambassador Arnall and his wife have decided that their immediate priority is to return to the United States to be with Daniel, to help him through this crisis and on to a full recovery.

(Source: Elsevier Magazine)



Arnall is probably better known as the billionaire previous owner of Ameriquest, which was once one of the United States's leading wholesale sub-prime lenders. The company was one of the largest privately held retail mortgage lenders in the United States. In early 2006, the company announced a $325 million settlement with state attorneys general and law enforcement agencies and financial regulators in 49 states and the District of Columbia over allegations of predatory lending practices. Ameriquest faced allegations that, among other things, it misled and overcharged borrowers, and falsified loan applications.

(Source: Wikipedia)



I wonder if any of this gets/got any attention in US...probably not.

I always thought he was our Ambassador to Holland...