Several political leaders, including Massachusetts U.S. Sens. Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren, criticized Steward Health Care CEO Ralph de la Torre for defying a Senate committee subpoena. De la Torre's lawyers cited a federal court order preventing him from discussing ongoing reorganization and settlement efforts as the reason for his non-compliance.
Steward Health Care, which operates around 30 hospitals nationwide, filed for bankruptcy in May. Despite efforts to sell its Massachusetts hospitals, bids for Carney Hospital in Boston and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer fell short, leading to their closure. The sale of Steward's other Massachusetts hospitals was approved by a federal bankruptcy court.
In response to de la Torre's refusal to testify, Warren and Markey accused him of evading accountability. Warren suggested that de la Torre could invoke his right against self-incrimination if he fears legal repercussions.
During a press conference, Markey criticized de la Torre for avoiding scrutiny and accountability, stating that he should not be shielded from answering to the public, Congress, or the people of Massachusetts.
De la Torre's lawyers expressed concerns that the Senate committee was aiming to portray the hearing as a pseudo-criminal proceeding. Sanders, the committee chair, vowed to pursue avenues to compel de la Torre to testify, emphasizing the need to address the alleged mismanagement of Steward Health Care.
The committee's potential actions include pursuing criminal contempt charges, which could lead to a trial and imprisonment, or civil contempt, resulting in fines until de la Torre complies. De la Torre had also declined previous invitations to testify at a Boston field hearing earlier in the year.
