David and Kathe Sackler agreed with the House Oversight Committee to appear at a hearing set for this Thursday. The two family members, who helped steer the direction of Purdue Pharmaceuticals, will be answering questions about their role in the opioid crisis. Both seemed hesitant to appear at the hearing and were threatened with a subpoena if they did not appear willingly.

Purdue and the Sackler family owners have been at the center of thousands of lawsuits for years over their role in the opioid epidemic. The opioid epidemic, fueled by Oxycontin prescriptions and reckless prescribing, has taken over 450,000 lives over the past ten years.

Purdue Chief Executive Craig Landau is testifying at the hearing as well. His testimony was planned in advance.

Purdue Pharma’s Guilty Plea

In November, Purdue Pharmaceuticals pleaded guilty to criminal charges concerning their …