Ralph de la Torre, the CEO of Steward Health Care, says he will not testify at a Senate hearing in Washington next week.

Dallas-based Steward Health Care Chief Executive Officer Ralph de La Torre has informed senators he won’t participate in an upcoming hearing probing

Steward Health Care Chief Executive Officer Ralph de La Torre has informed senators he won’t participate in an upcoming hearing probing the hospital operator’s failure until after its bankruptcy has concluded.

Bankrupt Steward Health Care is back in the spotlight Thursday morning after CEO Ralph de la Torre said he won’t testify before a Senate committee in Washington. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee is demanding answers behind the hospital system’s collapse.

Federal lawmakers are threatening to hold Steward Health Care CEO Ralph de la Torre in contempt of Congress over his refusal to appear at a<a class="excerpt-read-more" href=" More

A criminal contempt conviction ultimately can’t force the hospital executive to answer questions about Steward’s downfall.

Democratic lawmakers have blamed de la Torre for Steward’s bankruptcy and criticized his compensation as chief executive. Sanders has also criticized the executive for declining past invitations to testify before Congress. The subpoena is the first to be issued by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions since 1981.

As embattled Steward Health Care works through bankruptcy, CEO Ralph de la Torre said he will not answer questions from lawmakers.