WASHINGTON — Pharmaceutical chief Martin Shkreli refused to testify Thursday in an appearance before U.S. lawmakers over severe hikes for a drug sold by a company that he acquired.
Shkreli appeared to smirk throughout his hour-long appearance, and moments afterward, tweets began to appear under his official account calling the lawmakers "imbeciles."
Shkreli, widely criticized for raising the price of a long-established and potentially lifesaving drug by more than 5,000 percent, exercised his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination when he went before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Four times, the entrepreneur and former hedge fund manager intoned before the committee: "On the advice of counsel I invoke my Fifth amendment privilege against self-incrimination and respectfully decline to answer your question."
Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the top Democrat on the committee, told the 32-year-old Shkreli to wipe the smirk off his face.
"I call this money blood money ... coming out of the pockets of hardworking Americans," he said, as Shkreli sat through the lecture. "I know you are smiling, but I am very serious, sir," Cummings said. "I truly believe you can become a force of tremendous good. All I ask is that you reflect on it. No, I don't ask, I beg that you reflect on it."
Shkreli was dismissed less than an hour into the hearing, but not before Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah. shouted down a request by Shkreli's attorney to speak.
See Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full coverage.