FTC and seven states ask court to hold Martin Shkreli in contempt over pharma ban
The FTC and seven states asked a federal court to hold Martin Shkreli in contempt, alleging he repeatedly violated his lifetime pharmaceutical industry ban through stock trading and livestreamed commentary. Shkreli responded that he was surprised by the filing.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2On Tuesday 13 October 2026, the Federal Trade Commission and seven states asked a federal court to hold Martin Shkreli in contempt for "flagrantly and repeatedly" violating a court order banning him from working in the pharmaceutical industry. STATN “The FTC and seven states on Tuesday asked a federal court to hold Shkreli in contempt for “flagrantly and repeatedly” violating a court order banning him from working in the pharmaceutical industry.” Read at STAT ↗ Ars TechnicaLC “On Tuesday, the FTC and the seven states asked a federal judge to hold Shkreli in contempt for the alleged violations.” Read at Ars Technica ↗ Left · 1The states are New York, California, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, the same ones that joined the FTC in suing Shkreli in 2020 over the Daraprim scheme. Ars TechnicaLC “The states include New York, California, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia” Read at Ars Technica ↗ Centre · 1Shkreli became known as "pharma bro" after raising the price of the anti-parasitic drug Daraprim, and was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2018 for defrauding investors; before his 2022 release a court banned him for life from the drug industry, saying he illegally tried to prevent generic competition. STATN “was sentenced to seven years in prison for defrauding investors in 2018. Before he was released in 2022, a court banned him from ever working in the drug industry again” Read at STAT ↗
Mixed · 2The price rise was described as 5,000% by STAT and more than 4,000% by Ars Technica, which said it went from $17.50 to $750 per pill. STATN “raise the price of an anti-parasitic drug called daraprim by 5,000%” Read at STAT ↗ Ars TechnicaLC “The scheme raised the price from $17.50 per pill to $750 per pill virtually overnight” Read at Ars Technica ↗ Left · 1According to the FTC and states, the ban explicitly prohibits Shkreli from owning stock in pharmaceutical companies and making public statements that could influence a pharmaceutical company's business. Ars TechnicaLC ““explicitly prohibits” Shkreli from owning stock in pharmaceutical companies and making public statements that could influence a pharmaceutical company’s business” Read at Ars Technica ↗ Left · 1The filing alleges violations in four phases: a 2022 trading competition with another YouTuber; shorting a small biotech in 2024; a 2025 trading challenge shorting three small biotechs; and a challenge begun in June 2026 with a $10,000,000 account. Ars TechnicaLC “a 2022 trading competition with another YouTuber; (2) shorting a small biotech firm in 2024” Read at Ars Technica ↗
Left · 1It says Shkreli sometimes showed his accounts during livestreams, evaluated stocks and predicted clinical trial outcomes; in 2025 he said he could "always find a couple of biotech stocks to smoke," and later urged viewers to short one company, whose stock fell 17 percent. Ars TechnicaLC ““It doesn’t matter what trades I make because I can always find a couple of biotech stocks to smoke.” Later in the year, Shkreli advised his viewers to short one pharmaceutical company’s stock, and the company’s stock price quickly dropped 17 percent.” Read at Ars Technica ↗ Left · 1The filers call the stocks identified "likely the tip of the iceberg", saying staff reviewed only a fraction of his activity and that he referred to other accounts. Ars TechnicaLC ““likely the tip of the iceberg.” FTC staff only reviewed a fraction of Shkreli’s social media activity” Read at Ars Technica ↗ Mixed · 2They seek to force Shkreli to divest from all pharmaceutical companies and pay a fine equal to his trading profits, and want the court to set "clear and escalating consequences" for future violations, including further financial penalties and incarceration. Ars TechnicaLC “force Shkreli to divest from all pharmaceutical companies and pay a fine equal to his profits from trading pharmaceutical company stocks” Read at Ars Technica ↗ STATN “FTC demands Martin Shkreli divest his pharma stocks” Read at STAT ↗
Left · 1FTC Commissioner Mark Meador said the record shows Shkreli "chose to blatantly disregard the order after leaving prison." Shkreli said he was surprised, writing that he could see New York Attorney General Letitia James trying to limit free speech "but not from Trump's FTC." Ars TechnicaLC “Mr. Shkreli chose to blatantly disregard the order after leaving prison,” FTC Commissioner Mark Meador said in a statement.”“I could see totalitarian NY AG Letitia James trying to limit a citizen’s free speech but not from Trump’s FTC,” he wrote on social media.” Read at Ars Technica ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Ars Technica leads with the livestreamed violations, detailing the filing's allegations and quoting Shkreli's own remarks.
- Emphasis
- Specific allegations, the four phases, Shkreli's quotes and the FTC's requested remedies; includes Shkreli's response.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Little on the legal standard the court will apply for contempt.
- Charged language
- “flagrantly and repeatedly”“tip of the iceberg”
- For example
-
“Martin Shkreli livestreamed himself violating lifetime pharma ban, FTC says” — Ars Technica
“likely the tip of the iceberg” — Ars Technica
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- STAT frames it as Shkreli's return drawing FTC action, and focuses on the demand that he divest pharma stocks.
- Emphasis
- The contempt request and background on the Daraprim price rise and 2022 ban.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the specific livestream allegations or Shkreli's response, which Ars Technica reports.
- Charged language
- “pharma bro”“Martin Shkreli is back”
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- On 13 October 2026 the FTC and seven states asked a federal court to hold Shkreli in contempt.
- Shkreli was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2018 and banned for life from the pharmaceutical industry before his 2022 release.
Where accounts differ
-
Size of the Daraprim price increase
- Left
- More than 4,000 percent, from $17.50 to $750 per pill.
- Centre
- 5,000%.
Federal Trade Commission organisation
With seven states, says Shkreli knowingly defied the lifetime ban by trading pharma stocks and commenting on companies, and seeks divestment, a fine and escalating penalties.
“A lifetime industry ban is only effective if breaches are met with consequences commensurate with the seriousness of the order.” — Ars Technica
Martin Shkreli person
Said he was surprised by the filing and framed it as a free-speech issue.
“In a response, Shkreli said he was surprised by the FTC’s filing.” — Ars Technica
Left1 article
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Martin Shkreli livestreamed himself violating lifetime pharma ban, FTC says
Critical Detailed account of the filing's allegations, presented as FTC claims, with Shkreli's own livestream quotes.
Centre1 article
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STATN ·
STAT+: FTC demands Martin Shkreli divest his pharma stocks
Neutral Brief, wry opener on Shkreli's return and the FTC's contempt request with background on his conviction and ban.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 13 Oct 15:31 First STATN STAT+: FTC demands Martin Shkreli divest his pharma stocks
- 13 Oct 23:50 +8h 19m Ars TechnicaLC Martin Shkreli livestreamed himself violating lifetime pharma ban, FTC says
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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