Markey, HELP Committee Push Justice Department to Hold Steward Healthcare CEO Ralph de la Torre Accountable for Corporate Greed

Washington (August 7, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, today released the following statement as the Department of Justice continues to ignore the Senate's unanimous criminal contempt referral for Steward Health Care CEO Dr. Ralph de la Torre. De la Torre failed to respond to a subpoena issued by the Senate HELP committee in September 2024. Senator Markey and the HELP Committee continue to call on the Department of Justice to hold Dr. de la Torre accountable for his mismanagement and dangerous self-interest.

"Dr. Ralph de la Torre looted Steward Health Care for his own personal gain, including selling land out from under hospitals while he bought a yacht and lavish homes. His greed led to patient deaths, unpaid workers and vendors, and communities losing critical health services. The Senate unanimously voted to hold him in contempt of Congress, but de la Torre has yet to face accountability for his actions. The Department of Justice has dragged its feet for too long; it's time they hold de la Torre responsible for the anguish he's caused Massachusetts families.

"Steward Health Care was an example - not the exception. The longer de la Torre evades responsibility, the more people will die. I will continue fighting for my Health Over Wealth Act and to get private equity out of health care. Massachusetts and our country deserve better."

In July 2024, Senator Markey spoke at a press conference after Steward announced the closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer and Carney Hospital in Dorchester. Earlier in the month, Senator Markey was joined by fifteen bipartisan colleagues in voting to subpoena Dr. de la Torre to compel him to appear before the HELP Committee and answer for the business practices of Steward Health and the role private equity and real estate investment trusts played in its bankruptcy. This was the first time the HELP Committee had issued a subpoena since 1981. Dr.de la Torre refused to appear. The HELP Committee voted to hold him in contempt on September 19, 2024. On September 25, 2024, the Senate voted to hold Dr. de la Torre in civil and criminal contempt of Congress.

In September 2024, Senator Markey unveiled "The Steward Health Care Report: How Corporate Greed Hurt Patients, Health Workers, and Communities." The report spotlights patient and worker experiences, hospital quality data, and information on hospital closures in Massachusetts and around the country to document the devastating impacts of Steward's mismanagement.

In June 2026, Senator Markey wrote to Keith Sonderling, Acting Secretary of the Department of Labor, raising the alarm for a proposed rule that would expose Americans' retirement savings to greater risk by opening the door to expanded private equity investments in 401(k)s and other retirement plans. This extractive private equity model has led to the collapse of Steward Health Care, hospital closures, and mismanaged nursing homes.

In July 2026, Senator Markey and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) reintroduced the Health Over Wealth Act, legislation spurred by the Steward crisis that would require greater transparency into private equity firms and for-profit companies that own healthcare entities, including hospitals, nursing homes, and mental or behavioral health facilities. The bill would put safeguards in place to protect workers, patients, and health care quality, access, and safety; create stronger accountability measures for corporate greed; and close tax loopholes that benefit real estate investment trusts making money off of health care property.

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