New Portland Trail Blazers Owner Played Key Role at Company Oregon Accused of Predatory Lending

This ProPublica investigative piece, co-published with Oregon Public Broadcasting and bylined by Conrad Wilson, demonstrates strong journalistic rigor with extensive primary sourcing—internal company emails, regulatory filings, and statements from state officials. The reporting is substantive and well-documented, tracing Dundon's specific role in implementing the waiver of proof-of-income requirements at Santander Consumer and drawing a direct line to the $550 million settlement Oregon reached with the company for predatory lending practices. The framing is critical but grounded in documentary evidence rather than speculation; however, readers should note that Dundon declined to respond to detailed questions and the piece relies on regulatory characterizations of his actions (e.g., 'ignoring internal concern') alongside email records, which strengthens but doesn't fully eliminate the interpretive component of the narrative.