Copyright 2024 Patriot Mom Digest
Eric Hovde, the Republican Senate candidate, faces backlash over his comments on voter eligibility in nursing homes and a lawsuit alleging elder abuse linked to his bank.
The Washington Examiner reported that Hovde, a key figure in Wisconsin’s political scene as he challenges incumbent Senator Tammy Baldwin in the November elections, has recently come under fire. He has made headlines not just for his Senate race but also for his controversial statements and a serious legal allegation concerning a business he oversees.
Hovde’s contentions emerged during an interview on Fox News Radio where he discussed voter fraud in Wisconsin nursing homes during the 2020 general election.
During the conversation with Guy Benson, Hovde expressed doubts about the capability of nursing home residents to participate in voting, mentioning that they are generally not in a condition to make such decisions.
The backlash was swift. Hovde’s comments, which were supported by the endorsement of former President Donald Trump earlier this month, created a stir within various communities, particularly among advocates for the elderly. Responding to the furor, Hovde later retracted his statements, yet the damage to his public image had already begun to take shape.
In a twist that compounded Hovde's troubles, a lawsuit surfaced, naming Sunwest, the bank where Hovde serves as CEO, as a co-defendant. The lawsuit was filed by Patricia Chiuppi, who claims her mother, Betty Nottoli, suffered from neglect which led to her death at a Sunwest-owned retirement home. This facility was acquired by Sunwest in 2021, and the alleged incidents occurred under the bank’s ownership.
The lawsuit, reported by The New York Times, has brought additional scrutiny to Hovde. The plaintiff's attorney accuses the retirement home of negligence and elder abuse leading to wrongful death. These serious accusations have prompted a defensive stance from Hovde’s team.
Ben Voelkel, Hovde’s campaign spokesperson, argued that the lawsuit lacks concrete details about the alleged incident and even went as far as to claim the lawsuit is baseless. Voelkel emphasized that a third party managed the facility, and Sunwest Bank, along with its LLC, merely owned the property due to a foreclosure process.
Voelkel explained, “Sunwest Bank was a member of an L.L.C. that came into ownership of the facility through a foreclosure. A third party unrelated to Sunwest and the L.L.C. managed the facility," reinforcing the point that direct accountability for the incident might not lie with Sunwest, a statement designed to mitigate the backlash against Hovde. Continuing, he noted, “The lawsuit is meritless, which may be why the filing attorney has not served Sunwest and has stopped communicating with the bank.”
As public and legal pressures mount, the implications for Hovde’s Senate campaign are significant. Once considered a strong contender against Senator Baldwin, Hovde now navigates a minefield of public opinion and legal battles. His prior remarks concerning voter fraud have cast a shadow over his campaign, complicating his political journey.
As the election inches closer, how Hovde addresses these controversies could define his political future. Wisconsin voters, particularly those sensitive to issues surrounding elderly care, may view these matters as reflective of Hovde’s values and decision-making.
In summary, Eric Hovde, amid his Senate run, is entangled in controversies that test his campaign's resilience. His remarks on voter eligibility in nursing homes and the lawsuit against his bank spotlight the challenges he faces as he seeks to shift public focus back to his campaign platform.