Pharmaceutical CEO Martin Shkreli refuses to testify before Congress, smirks during hearing

WASHINGTON -- Pharmaceutical CEO Martin Shkreli exercised his Fifth Amendment right and refused to testify before Congress Thursday.

Shkreli, widely scorned for hiking the price of a long-established and potentially lifesaving drug Daraprim by more than 5,000 percent, went before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Rep. Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the panel, berated Shkreli: "I call this money blood money... coming out of the pockets of hardworking Americans," he said.

At one point, attorney Ben Brafman stood up and tried to speak on his behalf but was told, "you are not recognized."

Brafman sat down.

Shkreli only smirked as Rep. Cummings implored him to help "lower the price of these drugs."

"I know you are smiling but I'm very serious sir," Rep. Cummings said. "It's not funny, Mr. Shkreli. Yeah, you. Are you listening?"

"Yes," Shkreli finally said, laughing.

Afterwards, Brafman said it was "a frustrating morning" because Shkreli didn't want to answer questions.

The one place Shkreli did speak was on social media. He posted this message after the hearing: