A Smirking Martin Shkreli Pleads the Fifth Before Congress

Possibly broke, definitely failed former Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli giggled his way through a Congressional committee hearing Thursday instead of answering questions.

Shkreli took the fifth rather than engage with the committee, instead communicating through his native language of smirking. Though he was reportedly on the verge of laughter at this rib tickler from Congressman Elijah Cummings, a Maryland Democrat:

“Drug company executives are lining their pockets at the expense of some of the most vulnerable families in our nation. It’s not funny, Mr. Shkreli. People are dying and they’re getting sicker and sicker.”

Wocka Wocka Wocka.

He must spend a lot of time laughing himself to tears. Shkreli, who seems to have no concept of the difference between good attention and bad attention, has been getting yelled at online at least since August when his company Turing Pharmaceuticals purchased the drug Daraprim and jacked the price from $13.50 to $750 per tablet. As you may remember, Daraprim is especially known for treating toxoplasmosis in HIV patients, who suddenly saw the cost of staying alive become much more expensive.

In December, Shkreli was arrested by the FBI on security fraud — charges unrelated to the Congressional Committee. In January he decided the Wu-Tang Clan indeed was something to fuck with, threatening Ghostface Killah after purchasing the sole copy of the group’s album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin for over $2 million.

You start to suspect that, in Shkreli’s head, all outraged aimed at him is confirmation of his own importance.

Maybe Congress would have better luck getting him to talk on Twitter. Immediately after the hearing, Shkreli went online to post his take on the hearing:

Shkreli, you are incorrigible.