As a president, Simon is responsible for the mess. Period.

He ran for the position of the president. People voted him because they thought he could handle things. Now, if his supporters are saying they didn't know about these other people making deals, it is same as deflecting responsibilities. In any case, first, I don't believe he is innocent, and second, I don't believe the arguments that these mismanagements were results of past misdeeds or some other associates being corrupt.