https://twitter.com/MartinShkreli/status/690256846557450240
Now we know a bit more about Martin Shkreli will keep quiet about drug prices during his forthcoming hearing before a Congressional committee next week – and it’s not just out of spite.
Turing Pharmaceuticals is being investigated by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for possible antitrust violations, Reuters reports.
The probe comes in connection with Turing’s decision to increase the price of Daraprim more than 5,000 percent, the attorney for former CEO Martin Shkreli wrote. Reuters received the letter, and says:
The probe was disclosed in a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from Baruch Weiss, Shkreli’s lawyer, as grounds for why his client would not answer questions about drug prices at a Jan. 26 hearing.
The same committee subpoenaed Shkreli earlier this week. He was also indicted in December for securities fraud charges related to activities at his previous companies. Reuters continues:
In a letter seen by Reuters, Weiss said Shkreli would “gladly cooperate” with the committee and produce documents if it granted immunity to the controversial 32-year-old former drug executive.
But even if that happened, it would not occur before Tuesday’s hearing, “so there is no reason on that account for Mr. Shkreli to appear” at it, Weiss wrote in the letter.
In light of government probes involving Shkreli, Weiss said his client would otherwise refuse to answer questions under his constitutional right not to incriminate himself.
