Shkreli, who earned the nickname “Pharma Bro” for exploits that included an exponential increase to the price of a life-saving drug, described his post about Clinton as an “awkward attempt at humor or satire.”
In a letter to U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto, Shkreli, 34, said he did not mean to threaten Clinton when he offered the online bounty for pieces of the former Democratic presidential candidate’s hair during her upcoming book tour. He said he quickly added a disclaimer to the post saying he was not encouraging assault.
“I want to assure Your Honor that I am not a violent person, have never personally engaged in any violent behavior, nor have I ever intentionally encouraged anyone to do so,” Shkreli wrote.
U.S. prosecutors last week said the Sept. 4 Facebook post, which prompted an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service, was part of an “escalating pattern of threats and harassment” that warranted revoking his $5 million bail.
In a separate letter, Shkreli’s lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said the Facebook post was “constitutionally-protected political hyperbole.”
Brafman compared the post to other examples of political satire, including a photo of comedian Kathy Griffin holding a likeness of President Donald Trump’s severed head. Shkreli is an outspoken supporter of the Republican president.
Matsumoto will hold a hearing on the motion to revoke Shkreli’s bail today. What a joke!
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