One of Republican Congressman David Schweikert’s political opponents is asking a Congressional committee to investigate whether Schwiekert used taxpayer money to advertise for a drug company that donated $5,000 to his campaign.
Democrat Andrei Cherny is running for Schweikert’s seat. As first reported by the Arizona Republic, Cherny’s drawing attention to a newsletter Schweikert sent to constituents where he mentions a Dutch pharmaceutical company called Novo Nordisk and their pricing of weight-loss drugs.
“Had failed candidate Andrei Cherny done even a modicum of research, he would have saved himself the embarrassment of showing voters he has no idea what he’s talking about,” said Chris Baker, Schweikert’s campaign manager.
Schweikert is the vice chairman of the Joint Economic Committee in Congress, which referred to drug pricing in a report issued in July. The report refers to obesity as a “major driver of federal healthcare spending.”
The newsletter Schweikert sent out in November was approved by a bipartisan committee. He’s the co-sponsor of a bill to expand Medicare to cover weight loss drugs.
“I'm reading about how obesity drug maker Novo Nordisk is looking to give countries flexible pricing to purchase its weight loss drugs by offering a 'buy now, pay later' option to treat more people who currently can't currently access the products,” Schweikert said in the newsletter.
Cherny did not respond to a request for comment.
Schweikert represents the 1st Congressional District, which is considered competitive but leans Republican.
For the 2024 election, nine people have filed statements of interest to run for the seat, including Cherny and Schweikert. Seven are Democrats.
