The Sackler family, former owners of OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma, sought advice from Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg on how to avoid negative press related to the opioid crisis, according to ProPublica.
ProPublica details the nature of the relationship between the Sacklers and the news magnate, which comes under scrutiny as Mr. Bloomberg campaigns for president amid a major opioid crisis in the U.S.
The report notes that Mr. Bloomberg, while serving as mayor of New York, put a cap on painkiller prescriptions for public hospital emergency departments and was known for his efforts around public health. From this vantage point, his connection with the Sacklers is surprising; however, ProPublica notes that Mr. Bloomberg is linked to the Sacklers via a mutual philanthropic interest in art. Mortimer Sackler, who formerly served on the board of Purdue Pharma, decided to use this connection in December 2017 when he needed advice on how to avoid negative press. At this time, Mr. Bloomberg also recommended a former press secretary for crisis communications, according to ProPublica.
The report also discusses how Bloomberg News treated coverage of the Sacklers and other billionaire families. Read more here.
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