Bernie Sanders Rejects Donation From Martin Shkreli, “Poster Boy For Drug Company Greed”

Credit: tvklan.al
Credit: tvklan.al


Remember Martin Shkreli, the Turing boss who tried to increase the price of an Aids and cancer drug by 5,455%? That stunt gained him little favor with the public, and, according to The Guardian, absolutely no admiration from the Democratic presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders.

According to The Boston Globe, Shkreli donated $2,700 to Sanders’ campaign (the maximum individual contribution allowed) in an effort to secure a meeting with the Vermont senator. Apparently he wanted to “discuss his side of the story” and the necessity for drug companies to sometimes charge high prices in order to “pay for life-saving pharmaceutical developments.” 

Not surprisingly, Sanders wanted nothing to do with Shkreli or his tainted money.

“We are not keeping the money from this poster boy for drug company greed,” said Michael Briggs, the spokesman for Sanders’ campaign.

Instead, the donation will be handed over to the Whitman-Walker health clinic in Washington, which specializes in treating HIV/Aids patients in the LGBT community. How’s that for irony and a slap in the face?

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Shkreli is “furious” that Sanders has publicly rejected his money without discussing his side of the story on drug pricing.

“Is he willing to sort of accept that there is a tradeoff, that to take risks for innovation, companies have to invest lots of money and they need some kind of return for that, and what does he think that should look like?” Shkreli said.

Sanders likely expected such backlash, as he stated during the debate: “I would lump Wall Street and the pharmaceutical industry at the top of my list of people who do not like me.”

Of course, Bernie isn’t the only presidential candidate disgusted with Shkreli’s greed. Clinton accused him of price gouging, and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he looked like a “spoiled brat.” 

At least they agree on something.

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