Martin Shkreli — the hedge fund manager who jacked up the price of a drug used by some HIV patients by 5,000 percent to $750 a pill — smirked, laughed, and grimaced before a hearing of the Congressional Committee on Oversight and Government Reform yesterday, Thursday, Feb. 4.
Shkreli appeared before the committee following his December arrest. He is accused of securities fraud and those charges are unrelated to the manipulation of drug prices.
Throughout the hearing, Shkreli invoked his 5th Amendment right to not testify as “a witness against himself.” But he was hardly quiet or humble. On camera, the 32-year-old was seen laughing, yawning, turning his head away from committee members and dismissing questions.
Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, asked Shkreli if he would admit he was wrong if asked by someone living with AIDS who relied on the drug Daraprim, according to Reuters.
Shkreli declined to comment.
After South Carolina Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy suggested he could answer non-incriminating questions, like how to spell his name, Shkreli declined.
“I intend to follow the advice of my counsel,” Shkreli said, “not yours.”
Shkreli looked away even when Maryland Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings pleaded with him to apologize and use the opportunity to become an advocate for patients.
“I truly believe – are you listening?” Cummings asked at one point.
At the advice of his counsel, Shkreli answered, “Yes.”
After the hearing Shkreli tweeted “Hard to accept that these imbeciles represent the people in our government.”
Martin Shkreli invokes the 5th Amendment, acts like a dick before Congress
