'That's sheer duplicity': Trump-backed Senate candidate Eric Hovde blasted over past attempt to launch China-related venture

WASHINGTON, DC: Multimillionaire banker Eric Hovde, who is running for the US Senate from Wisconsin, once attempted to set up a venture in China despite his current anti-China stance, according to corporation records.

Before his first senate bid in 2012, the Republican was connected to a venture to launch water parks in China, a business plan initiated by his brother Steven Hovde, as per the Daily Beast.

The Senate candidate's brother founded Hovde China Ventures LLC in Delaware. According to public records, the company was shut down after four years.

Eric Hovde's team dismisses his China venture

Despite Eric's frequent collaboration with his brother Steven on real estate and financial projects, the Senate contender's team said that Steven implemented the business solo.

"Eric has not ever done business in China," said the Donald Trump-endorsed candidate's spokesman, Ben Voelkel. "Nothing ended up coming of Steve's investment interests."

The spokesperson explained that Steven "was aiming to assist Wisconsin's water park industry in expanding into China," but the project "never progressed beyond holding meetings and no investments were made. Eric had no involvement in this at all."

Steven also dismissed the accusation in an email to the Daily Beast, asserting that his brother was "not involved at all," and emphasized that he did nothing in China, describing the venture as "a bust and a waste of time."

Additionally, he confirmed that the business had no association with technology or manufacturing. Steven, who provided financial support to Eric's super PAC for the Senate race, maintained that his position on China was "irrelevant."

Hovde China Ventures was established in December 2011 in Delaware, but its license was canceled in December 2016 due to non-payment of $1,702 in tax dues.

The multimillionaire Senate candidate has consistently expressed his anti-China views throughout the campaign trail.

For instance, in his appearance in a Utah-based Sunwest Bank commercial, Eric said, "If I were in the Senate, I'd be very focused on what China is doing and why we are allowing them to come to our communities and buy up our land, especially around military bases."

Recently, he said to a local media outlet that in order to resolve the fentanyl crisis, China should be hammered since it manufactures a significant amount of the drug.

Internet slams Eric Hovde as records show his venture in China

Netizens blasted the Senate candidate over records indicating his connection with his brother's business plan in China.

"That's the sheer duplicity of conservatives. The more messianic they are in their China criticisms, the more you know they're in China's (or Russia's) pocket. Like the Trump and Kushner families," a user commented on Facebook.

Another remarked, "No surprise the GOP always says that but look at all the Chinese companies they have allowed in the state or business. It’s always their anti something but obviously in word only not practice." [sic]

Someone else wrote on X, "Does anyone have an idea of how much time he's actually physically spent in Wisconsin? A week, maybe?"

"Just what our Government needs another Multi-millionaire GOP Senator who wants to privatize everything and make working class Americans into indentured servants to the Rich. Wisconsin needs to say NO to these corrupt crony criminals. Tammy Baldwin, is a good and decent person. She gave a lot for America. More than any GOP Senator or Candidate currently running for office," an individual commented on Yahoo News.

A user said, "We seriously have to stop letting greedy rich people be politicians."

"'Anti-China' in the political arena is nothing but a pony show to attract attention to cheap more votes. If you don't pick an enemy to attack, it'll make you look weak & nobody wants to vote for a weakie," read a response. [sic]

Another added, "he copies Trump to make voters and suckers happy." [sic]

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.