‘Pharma bro’ Shkreli stays silent before Congress, calls lawmakers ‘imbeciles’ in tweet

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Washington Post

Wonkblog

‘Pharma bro’ Shkreli stays silent before Congress, calls lawmakers ‘imbeciles’ in tweet

By Carolyn Y. Johnson February 4 at 10:25 AM
@carolynyjohnson

{Watch live: 'Pharma Bro' Martin Shkreli testifies on Capitol Hill}

This story has been updated.

Martin Shkreli has left the building. ... Shkreli, the former chief executive of Turing Pharmaceuticals, who gained notoriety for jacking up a little-known drug's price, was excused from a House hearing on drug prices after he refused to answer any questions -- other than how to pronounce his name correctly, or to confirm that, yes, he was listening.

After minutes of refusal to answer questions, during which Shkreli fidgeted, looked away, and appeared to smirk at times, he gave his parting remarks on Twitter:

Five minutes were set aside for opening remarks that could shed light on Shkreli's controversial decision to raise the price of Daraprim, a drug for a rare, but severe infection that afflicts people with compromised immune systems. But Shkreli declined to make any. Instead, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, began asking him questions about patients affected by the price and remarks he had made previously. Shkreli gave the same composed answer to each question:

"On the advice of counsel, I invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and respectfully decline to answer your question," Shkreli said. Repeatedly.


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/02/04/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-faces-congress-today-but-pledges-silence/

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The hearings are on C-Span. The article contains a link to a video of Shkreli's appearance.

Martin Shkreli on Twitter

One thing I'd like to point out is that the Fifth Amendment affirms rights, not privileges. But any imbecile would know that.

I'm sure you remember Jason Chaffetz:

As the first reply to this thread, by Hayduke Bomgarte, suggests, considering it's Chaffetz running the show, this comment to the Washington Post story might convey the thoughts of a lot of people:

LaurenInGlenBurnie

12:20 PM EST

I'm not sure who I can't stand more... Shkreli, Gowdy, or Chaffetz?

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

1. calls lawmakers ‘imbeciles’

Hard to argue against that...

[Cosmocat]

4. In the land of the blind

the one eyed man is king ...

[StandingInLeftField]

8. I tore a contact this morning...

I RULZ!!!!

[7962]

2. I REALLY hope this guy gets what he deserves.

Or at least a severe beating at some point.
Smirking piece of shit

[jtuck004]

3. Imbeciles? Nah. If he had said "lying hypocrites", it would be harder to argue with. n/t

[gregcrawford]

5. I SOOO want to see that evil little sociopath crushed...

... and that smug smirk wiped off his face forever. Christ what an arrogant asshole.

[Javaman]

9. I think you are right, he is a sociopath.

he's certainly not as calculating as a psychopath.

[gregcrawford]

10. From the psych texts I have read...

... there's a very fine and fuzzy line between the two classifications. He hasn't murdered anyone... yet, but his obscene greed in jacking up the price of Daraprim from a dollar to $750 has undoubtedly cost some people of limited means their lives. By his actions, I would say that he is evil down to his DNA, and has ZERO redeeming qualities. He's carved out of the same turd as Lloyd Blankfein.

[Javaman]

11. I've been on this jag latetly reading about psychopaths and sociopaths...

I've compiled about 5 books. But I'm certainly far from an expert.

one of the things that I have derived is that: psychopath: nature (DNA) , sociopath: nurture (beaten as a kid).

that said, not all psychopaths and sociopaths are murderers.

there are passive versions of both.

the passive kind go into high profile jobs or careers to control people (politicians) or just mess with peoples lives (insane bosses that can't rise above his petty tyranny)

I honestly believe that ted cruz is a psychopath, in my opinion. From everything I have read about him, he hits all the high notes. I think he would score very high on the psychopath profiling test.

as for this greedy little bastard shkreli, he does show classic signs of a sociopath. chaotic, unpredictable personality, a level of arrogance that fringes on narcissism, screw up set of morals and ethics, etc. I wouldn't at all be surprised if someone from his childhood came forward and stated that he tortured little animals as a kid. (not all sociopaths that torture animals become mass murderers aka george w. bush*, yes I think he is one)

just my two cents.

[gregcrawford]

13. A succinct differentiation...

... I like it. I realize that not all of them kill, but I think the urge to do so is not as far below the surface as it is in "normal" folks. Dubya probably falls in the same category as Charles Manson; he exhorted others to kill.

Cruz is in a category all by himself. If given half a chance, I think he'd make Stalin look like a choirboy.

[Javaman]

15. I agree. I think when cruz talked about "carpet boming" Syria, he really meant it.

And that's an apt comparison of george*. He kills by proxy.

two great books I read recently are: "The wisdom of the psychopath: and "The sociopath next door". Oh and one more "Snakes in Suits".

[gregcrawford]

16. Try "Without Conscience"

I don't have the author's name at my fingertips, but it is informative.

[Javaman]

17. Thanks! I'll look for it. :) nt

[Warpy]

6. Well, yeah, but they really dislike having it pointed out

by a new money crook who is busy outsmarting himself into prison and poverty.

[randome]

7. He's right. The guy hasn't done anything illegal yet Congress wants to put on a show.

It's like they've forgotten how to pass legislation since they spend all their time these days talking about how fabulous they are and how evil Democrats are.

There's a simple fix to the high prices this asshole was charging: pass a fucking law to make it illegal!
[hr][font color="blue"][center]A ton of bricks, a ton of feathers, it's still gonna hurt.[/center][/font][hr]

[harun]

12. I have to agree. All campaign theater, no legislation.

[leftynyc]

18. You mean he hasn't been CONVICTED

of anything yet. He's been arrested for securities fraud:

http://www.businessinsider.com/martin-shkreli-arrested-in-securities-fraud-investigation-2015-12

[olddad56]

14. sounds like he is qualified to be asking the questions.

[hamsterjill]

19. Shkreli is an unfeeling asshole.

An asshole who I hope one day meets an even bigger asshole that gives him some of his own "medicine".

[valerief]

20. Whoa, boy, the GOP is going to scoop him up for some BIG political office.

He's definitely GOP material.

[hexola]

21. He's an ass for sure - but the whole hearing was a complete farce...

Chaffetz came off as a clueless bully - just wasting our time with his absurd attempt to question him or whatever that was...

Pot meet kettle...

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

22. He'd be a perfect Trump VP.

[Odin2005]

23. What a disgusting psychopath.

No shame, no remorse, no conscience. Perfect example of Antisocial Personality Disorder.

[area51]

24. This is the outcome

of not regulating the price of medications. Go 'murica!