The empty chair reserved for de la Torre at a Senate HELP hearing. Photo: Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
The departing CEO of troubled Steward Health Care is suing the Senate HELP Committee, arguing its moves to compel him to testify are unconstitutional.
Why it matters: The move is an escalation in the battle between Ralph de la Torre and Democrats and Republicans on the HELP panel, which under Chair Bernie Sanders has investigated him for patient deaths and understaffing at the financially struggling hospital system.
Driving the news: The lawsuit seeks to invalidate the committee's subpoena for de la Torre to testify, and to prevent the panel from taking criminal or civil action to enforce the subpoena.
- It argues de la Torre invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to testify, but that the committee ignored that.
- "Defendants are collectively undertaking a concerted effort to punish Dr. de la Torre for invoking his Fifth Amendment right not to 'be compelled ... to be a witness against himself' and continue to command his sworn testimony by compulsion without regard for the validity of his invocation," the complaint states.
- The Senate last week unanimously adopted a resolution to hold de la Torre in contempt and refer the matter to the U.S. attorney, a sign of the widespread frustration with him in the Senate.
- De la Torre announced over the weekend he is stepping down from his CEO role.
