DeVos Coverup Exposed

The Alterra/DeVos story continues to grow legs in Michigan thanks to Daddy DeVos. Here's the lastest MDP press release:

Rich DeVos: Dick DeVos Knew About Alterra’s Abuse

LANSING- Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer pointed to an article by Rob Kirkbride in today’s Grand Rapids Press today that disproves GOP gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos’ claim that he only “recently” learned of the abuse of seniors at the DeVos controlled Alterra nursing homes. The Press reported that “Richard DeVos said Wednesday his son, Dick, and the rest of the family were given only a short briefing about problems at the former Alterra Healthcare Corp. nursing home chain.”

Kirkbride also reported that “Richard DeVos said [Alterra Board Chairman Jerry] Tubergen talked to the RDV Corp. board about Alterra and told the family he would ‘take care of it.’” The Board of Directors of RDV Corporation is composed Dick DeVos and his siblings and their spouses. (pp. 20-22 of RDV Altco LLP's June 12, 2000 Schedule 13D SEC Filing).

“DeVos’ father’s statement is a smoking gun proving that Dick DeVos knew about the abuse at Alterra when it was occurring in 2000-02 and lied about his knowledge in the debate. The DeVos campaign has been engaging in a cover-up of DeVos’ knowledge of the abuse,” Brewer said. “DeVos lied because Alterra covered up the abuse every step of the way. DeVos does not want people to know that he and his closest friends and family did nothing when many seniors were being abused.”

There are other instances of the DeVos campaign lying to the public about Alterra.

* DeVos flip-flopped on the amount that he invested, saying that he owned $20 million worth and then saying he owned $9 million worth.
* DeVos denied that Jerry Tubergen had control, but Tubergen was Chairman and led the search for Alterra’s President and CEO according the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Tubergen also appointed Alterra’s President according to Business Wire.
* DeVos’ campaign said there were no “special provisions” given to those in the DeVos investment, but the Detroit News reports “Brewer also provided a copy of Alterra bylaws that spelled out how DeVos and his group could hire top company officials, control the company budget and make decisions about corporate operations.”

This isn't the first time Daddy DeVos contradicted his son. Earlier in the campaign, Dick ran around claiming he should be elected because he turned Grand Rapids around. When DeVos Sr. was asked to comment about his son's claim, he just chuckled and called that "a little political license." Hmm...is that the same thing as telling a little white lie?