WASHINGTON - A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against twenty U.S. Senators brought by the company that once operated more than 31 hospitals around the country, including three here in the valley.

U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden has dismissed the complaint filed by former Steward Health CEO Dr. Ralph de la Torre against members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

The ruling, issued Tuesday, concluded that the court did not have the authority to hear the case because the actions of the senators were protected under the Constitution's Speech or Debate Clause.

The lawsuit stemmed from a Senate investigation into the bankruptcy of Steward Health Care System, where de la Torre had served as founder, chairman, and chief executive officer for n

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