Dallas health care CEO held in criminal contempt by U.S. Senate committee
U.S. senators investigating the collapse of Steward Health Care voted Thursday to pass civil and criminal contempt resolutions against the embattled health system’s chief executive officer after he defied a subpoena to testify about his role in the alleged mismanagement of the firm’s funds.
The vote comes after Ralph de la Torre, the company’s CEO and majority owner, failed to comply with the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions’ first subpoena since 1981. His rationale for his absence during the Sept. 12 hearing was to avoid potentially jeopardizing Steward’s precarious bankruptcy, and he sought to postpone his Congressional testimony until after it concluded.
“Time after time, he has arrogantly refused to appear,” said Senator Bernie Sanders, the chair of the committee that issued the subpoena. “Therefore, Dr. de la Torre has given us no choice but to move forward this morning on two resolutions to enforce the subpoena and hold him accountable for his actions.”
The bankruptcy of one of the nation’s largest private health systems has drawn ire from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle amid allegations of insufficient care.
Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/business/local-companies/2024/09/19/dallas-health-care-ceo-held-in-criminal-contempt-by-senate-committee/