Former McKinsey Partner Pleads Guilty to Obstruction

Martin Elling, a former senior partner at McKinsey & Company, pleaded guilty to obstructing justice by destroying records related to the consulting firm's work with Purdue Pharma on enhancing OxyContin sales. His guilty plea comes after McKinsey agreed to pay $650 million to resolve investigations into its consulting practices involving opioid manufacturers. Elling faces a potential prison sentence of up to one year, with sentencing scheduled for April 4. The case highlights ongoing accountability for corporations and executives implicated in the opioid crisis, which has resulted in nearly 727,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. since 1999. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary Lee emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in addressing the impacts of the opioid epidemic. Elling expressed regret for his actions, fully accepting responsibility for his role in the obstruction.