Drug exec Shkreli, lawmakers clash ahead of congressional hearing NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli was on a collision course with Congress on Thursday as lawmakers warned he could be prosecuted for contempt if he does not appear next week for a hearing about drug prices.  A lawyer for Shkreli informed the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of his intent not to answer questions and asked that he be excused from appearing, committee chairman Jason Chaffetz wrote in the letter dated Wednesday. The plan to remain silent contrasts with Shkreli’s prolific use of social media, where he has been outspoken on Twitter and livestream video even after his indictment last month on criminal charges of securities fraud. The Oversight Committee subpoenaed Shkreli to appear on Tuesday to discuss his decision as chief executive of Turing Pharmaceuticals to raise the price of a life-saving medicine, Daraprim, by more than 5,000 percent. Shkreli, 32, has said he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. On Twitter, he told followers it was “disgusting and insulting” for lawmakers to try to subvert that right. The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says that no person shall be compelled in any criminal case “to be a witness against himself.” The dispute appeared likely to end in one of two ways: with Shkreli appearing in Washington on Tuesday to invoke that right, or with Shkreli staying home in New York, prompting the committee to vote to hold him in contempt and setting off a potential criminal prosecution. Shkreli resigned as chief executive officer of Turing last month after his arrest on the fraud charges. Turing had acquired Daraprim, a 62-year-old drug, and caused a public furor when it drastically increased the price. Fights over congressional testimony are common, especially when potential witnesses are facing criminal prosecution and their testimony could later be used against them.  Some well-known witnesses, such as former IRS official Lois Lerner and former Enron chief financial officer Andrew Fastow, refused to answer questions from Congress but were required to appear in person in front of lawmakers and cameras before invoking that right. It was unclear on Thursday whether Shkreli would make the trip to do the same. His release on bond restricts him to certain parts of New York state, and he is required to ask a judge for a waiver to travel. One of Shkreli’s lawyers has informed the Oversight Committee that Shkreli has taken no steps to seek a travel waiver, said Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the committee’s top Democrat. “If he plans on trying to use his own intentional inaction as some kind of bogus excuse for not showing up at Tuesday’s hearing, people will see right through such a juvenile tactic,” Cummings said in a statement on Thursday. Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, warned in his letter to Shkreli defense attorney Baruch Weiss that Shkreli could face criminal prosecution for contempt if he fails to appear. “Mr. Shkreli is uniquely qualified to answer questions about rising prescription drug prices,” Chaffetz wrote. The threat of prosecution is more than theoretical. In 1952, mobster Frank Costello was convicted of contempt of Congress for failing to appear as a witness when he said he had laryngitis. Chaffetz in his letter held out the possibility of a compromise, writing that the committee may agree to hear testimony in a non-public session or to immunize the testimony so that it could not be used in the criminal prosecution. Immunizing the testimony, though, would require the support of two-thirds of the committee. Complicating the dispute is Shkreli’s decision this week to seek new lawyers, replacing a team from the law firm Arnold & Porter with others still to be named. The criminal charges against Shkreli stem from his prior management of hedge fund MSMB Capital Management and biopharmaceutical company Retrophin Inc (RTRX.O). Prosecutors said Shkreli engaged in a Ponzi-like scheme, defrauding hedge fund investors and then misappropriating $11 million in assets from Retrophin to repay them. Shkreli, who was also until recently chief executive of KaloBios Pharmaceuticals Inc KBIOQ.PK has pleaded not guilty, and on Twitter has called the allegations “baseless and without merit.” politicsNews
drug exec shkreli lawmakers clash ahead congressional hearing new york reuters former pharmaceutical executive martin shkreli collision course congress thursday lawmakers warned could prosecuted contempt appear next week hearing drug prices a lawyer shkreli informed house committee oversight government reform intent answer questions asked excused appearing committee chairman jason chaffetz wrote letter dated wednesday the plan remain silent contrasts shkreli prolific use social media outspoken twitter livestream video even indictment last month criminal charges securities fraud the oversight committee subpoena shkreli appear tuesday discuss decision chief executive during pharmaceuticals raise price medicine daraprim percent shkreli said would invoke fifth amendment right on twitter told followers disgusting insulting lawmakers try subvert right the fifth amendment constitution says person shall compelled criminal case witness the dispute appeared likely end one two ways shkreli appearing washington tuesday invoke right shkreli staying home new york prompting committee vote hold contempt setting potential criminal prosecution shkreli resigned chief executive officer during last month arrest fraud charges during acquired daraprim drug caused public juror drastically increased price fights congressional testimony common especially potential witnesses facing criminal prosecution testimony could later used some witnesses former irs official lois learner former non chief financial officer andrew factor refused answer questions congress required appear person front lawmakers cameras invoking right it unclear thursday whether shkreli would make trip his release bond restricts certain parts new york state required ask judge waiver travel one shkreli lawyers informed oversight committee shkreli taken steps seek travel waiver said elias cuttings maryland committee top democrat if plans trying use intentional inaction kind bogus excuse showing tuesday hearing people see right juvenile tactic cuttings said statement thursday chaffetz utah republican warned letter shkreli defense attorney branch weiss shkreli could face criminal prosecution contempt fails appear mr shkreli uniquely qualified answer questions rising prescription drug prices chaffetz wrote the threat prosecution theoretical in mobster frank constell convicted contempt congress failing appear witness said laryngitis chaffetz letter held possibility compromise writing committee may agree hear testimony session immune testimony could used criminal prosecution immunizing testimony though would require support committee complicating dispute shkreli decision week seek new lawyers replacing team law firm arnold porter others still named the criminal charges shkreli stem prior management hedge fund msb capital management biopharmaceutical company retrophin inc prosecutors said shkreli engaged scheme degrading hedge fund investors misappropriating million assets retrophin repay shkreli also recently chief executive kalobios pharmaceuticals inc pleaded guilty twitter called allegations baseless without politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Drug exec Shkreli, lawmakers clash ahead of congressional hearing NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli was on a collision course with Congress on Thursday as lawmakers warned he could be prosecuted for contempt if he does not appear next week for a hearing about drug prices.  A lawyer for Shkreli informed the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of his intent not to answer questions and asked that he be excused from appearing, committee chairman Jason Chaffetz wrote in the letter dated Wednesday. The plan to remain silent contrasts with Shkreli’s prolific use of social media, where he has been outspoken on Twitter and livestream video even after his indictment last month on criminal charges of securities fraud. The Oversight Committee subpoenaed Shkreli to appear on Tuesday to discuss his decision as chief executive of Turing Pharmaceuticals to raise the price of a life-saving medicine, Daraprim, by more than 5,000 percent. Shkreli, 32, has said he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. On Twitter, he told followers it was “disgusting and insulting” for lawmakers to try to subvert that right. The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says that no person shall be compelled in any criminal case “to be a witness against himself.” The dispute appeared likely to end in one of two ways: with Shkreli appearing in Washington on Tuesday to invoke that right, or with Shkreli staying home in New York, prompting the committee to vote to hold him in contempt and setting off a potential criminal prosecution. Shkreli resigned as chief executive officer of Turing last month after his arrest on the fraud charges. Turing had acquired Daraprim, a 62-year-old drug, and caused a public furor when it drastically increased the price. Fights over congressional testimony are common, especially when potential witnesses are facing criminal prosecution and their testimony could later be used against them.  Some well-known witnesses, such as former IRS official Lois Lerner and former Enron chief financial officer Andrew Fastow, refused to answer questions from Congress but were required to appear in person in front of lawmakers and cameras before invoking that right. It was unclear on Thursday whether Shkreli would make the trip to do the same. His release on bond restricts him to certain parts of New York state, and he is required to ask a judge for a waiver to travel. One of Shkreli’s lawyers has informed the Oversight Committee that Shkreli has taken no steps to seek a travel waiver, said Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the committee’s top Democrat. “If he plans on trying to use his own intentional inaction as some kind of bogus excuse for not showing up at Tuesday’s hearing, people will see right through such a juvenile tactic,” Cummings said in a statement on Thursday. Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, warned in his letter to Shkreli defense attorney Baruch Weiss that Shkreli could face criminal prosecution for contempt if he fails to appear. “Mr. Shkreli is uniquely qualified to answer questions about rising prescription drug prices,” Chaffetz wrote. The threat of prosecution is more than theoretical. In 1952, mobster Frank Costello was convicted of contempt of Congress for failing to appear as a witness when he said he had laryngitis. Chaffetz in his letter held out the possibility of a compromise, writing that the committee may agree to hear testimony in a non-public session or to immunize the testimony so that it could not be used in the criminal prosecution. Immunizing the testimony, though, would require the support of two-thirds of the committee. Complicating the dispute is Shkreli’s decision this week to seek new lawyers, replacing a team from the law firm Arnold & Porter with others still to be named. The criminal charges against Shkreli stem from his prior management of hedge fund MSMB Capital Management and biopharmaceutical company Retrophin Inc (RTRX.O). Prosecutors said Shkreli engaged in a Ponzi-like scheme, defrauding hedge fund investors and then misappropriating $11 million in assets from Retrophin to repay them. Shkreli, who was also until recently chief executive of KaloBios Pharmaceuticals Inc KBIOQ.PK has pleaded not guilty, and on Twitter has called the allegations “baseless and without merit.” politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: drug exec shkreli lawmakers clash ahead congressional hearing new york reuters former pharmaceutical executive martin shkreli collision course congress thursday lawmakers warned could prosecuted contempt appear next week hearing drug prices a lawyer shkreli informed house committee oversight government reform intent answer questions asked excused appearing committee chairman jason chaffetz wrote letter dated wednesday the plan remain silent contrasts shkreli prolific use social media outspoken twitter livestream video even indictment last month criminal charges securities fraud the oversight committee subpoena shkreli appear tuesday discuss decision chief executive during pharmaceuticals raise price medicine daraprim percent shkreli said would invoke fifth amendment right on twitter told followers disgusting insulting lawmakers try subvert right the fifth amendment constitution says person shall compelled criminal case witness the dispute appeared likely end one two ways shkreli appearing washington tuesday invoke right shkreli staying home new york prompting committee vote hold contempt setting potential criminal prosecution shkreli resigned chief executive officer during last month arrest fraud charges during acquired daraprim drug caused public juror drastically increased price fights congressional testimony common especially potential witnesses facing criminal prosecution testimony could later used some witnesses former irs official lois learner former non chief financial officer andrew factor refused answer questions congress required appear person front lawmakers cameras invoking right it unclear thursday whether shkreli would make trip his release bond restricts certain parts new york state required ask judge waiver travel one shkreli lawyers informed oversight committee shkreli taken steps seek travel waiver said elias cuttings maryland committee top democrat if plans trying use intentional inaction kind bogus excuse showing tuesday hearing people see right juvenile tactic cuttings said statement thursday chaffetz utah republican warned letter shkreli defense attorney branch weiss shkreli could face criminal prosecution contempt fails appear mr shkreli uniquely qualified answer questions rising prescription drug prices chaffetz wrote the threat prosecution theoretical in mobster frank constell convicted contempt congress failing appear witness said laryngitis chaffetz letter held possibility compromise writing committee may agree hear testimony session immune testimony could used criminal prosecution immunizing testimony though would require support committee complicating dispute shkreli decision week seek new lawyers replacing team law firm arnold porter others still named the criminal charges shkreli stem prior management hedge fund msb capital management biopharmaceutical company retrophin inc prosecutors said shkreli engaged scheme degrading hedge fund investors misappropriating million assets retrophin repay shkreli also recently chief executive kalobios pharmaceuticals inc pleaded guilty twitter called allegations baseless without politicsnews