New documents show Hovde’s bank has the ‘exclusive right to control, manage and direct’ senior living facility in lawsuit

Documents show that the bank owned by Wisconsin U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde has the “exclusive right to control” and manage a senior living facility that is suing Hovde’s bank, despite his campaign saying otherwise.

According to the operating agreement of Claremont Senior Living LLC, ­Hovde’s Sunwest Bank “shall possess the exclusive right to control, manage, and direct the Company’s [Claremont] business and affairs and to take all such action as he may deem necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purpose of the Company.”

The documents were obtained by Heartland Signal through a request to the California Department of Social Services. Hovde’s campaign did not immediately respond to comment on these documents.

Despite the findings, Hovde has repeatedly attempted to distance himself from ownership of the nursing home. Hovde campaign spokesperson Ben Voelkel claimed that “a third party unrelated to Sunwest” managed the facility when it was reported that the facility was hit with a wrongful death lawsuit.

According to The New York Times, Sunwest claimed millions of dollars in revenue from assisted living properties like Claremont.

Investigators from the California Department of Social Services also found that since Sunwest took control of the facility in 2021, it has been subject to several complaints. The investigators found that three of these complaints were substantiated: not following COVID-19 protocols, insufficient staff and improperly storing medication.

In April, weeks after Hovde announced his U.S. Senate bid, Hovde said on conservative radio that “almost nobody in a nursing home is in a point to vote.”