Chair for Steward CEO remains empty during Senate hearing [Video]

Steward Health Care CEO Dr. Ralph de la Torre was absent from a Congressional hearing Thursday about the bankruptcy of his company, which operated several Massachusetts hospitals, and may now face contempt charges.Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hoped to grill de la Torre at their hearing, but his chair remained empty. De la Torre was first subpoenaed in July, but he issued repeated statements saying he would not attend the hearing.”Not only would it be wholly inappropriate for him to testify on matters related to Steward’s bankruptcy while those proceedings are ongoing, but he is also prohibited by federal court order and otherwise from doing so,” de la Torre’s spokesperson said. Because of his absence, the committee can start the process of holding de la Torre in contempt of Congress. Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, a member of the committee whose office recently released a report …