Legendary Pitcher Roger Clemens Acquitted on All Perjury Charges
- Posted on June 18, 2012 at 5:10pm by
Jason Howerton
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Former Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens, left, with his attorney Rusty Hardin, arrives at federal court Monday, June 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
(The Blaze/AP) – Roger Clemens has been acquitted on all charges by a jury that decided he didn’t lie to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.
Jurors returned their verdict Monday after close to 10 hours of deliberation. The outcome brings an end to a 10-week trial that capped an expensive, five-year investigation into one of the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball.
The 49-year-old Clemens was accused of perjury, making false statements and obstructing Congress when he testified at a deposition and at a nationally-televised hearing in February 2008. The charges centered on his repeated denials that he used steroids and human growth hormone during his 24-year career.
CNN has more details on the trial:
Federal prosecutor Courtney Saleski, in closing arguments, told jurors Clemens “wanted to protect his brand, he wanted to protect his livelihood,” in denying the use of steroids during a 2008 investigation by the U.S. House of Representatives into the problem.
The Clemens defense team disputed whether the government had made its case, telling the jury all the evidence came through a former personal trainer, Brian McNamee, who had incentive to lie.
“You saw Brian McNamee, the only witness in the history of the world who says he gave or saw an injection of that man,” said defense attorney Michael Attanasio. “One person in the entire world.” During closing arguments, the defense cited the lack of corroborating witnesses.
It took about eight weeks for the prosecution and defense to question 46 witnesses, and the most direct conflict came among expert witnesses as to how to interpret a collection of discarded medical items that allegedly linked Clemens to steroid use. The pitcher did not take the stand in his defense.
Soiled medical wrappings, cotton balls, drug vials and hypodermic needles that McNamee kept were interpreted differently by each side. Witnesses for the government said genetic material linked with Clemens suggested it was impossible for McNamee to fabricate the evidence.
The verdict is the latest blow to the government’s pursuit of athletes accused of drug use.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments (55)
Kaisi
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:09amFirst OJ, then Obama, now Clemens. I’m losing faith in the judicial system.
Report Post »freedom for sale
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:39amThis was a waist of our time and our money.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:21pmThank you government for WASTING a whole bunch of OUR money for nothing…. even if he was guilty.
Report Post »MRMANN
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 7:10amCongrats Roger–innocent until proven guilty
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 7:14amgood…. too bad congress would not do their job and impeach obama.
Report Post »NC1
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:09amI’ve never understood why congress had their hands in this anyways. Why should they care whether an athlete uses steroids. I wonder when they’re going to start going after Eric Holder as hard as they went after Roger Clemens? Do your freakin’ job congress! Leave this crap up to the major league baseball folks and go after the real criminals!!
Report Post »rufusf43
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 6:54amTerrorism, identity theft, debt, recession, who cares. I am so glad our Congress is hot on the trail of athletes using steriods. I know Clemmens should be drawn and quartered for his possible lying to Congress. Hey what has Holder been doing for the last 2 years. Just sayin.
Report Post »enough_liberal_BS
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 3:37amTwo thumbs up for Roger! Two thumbs down for politicians finding another way to waste taxpayer time and money!!!!!
VOTE THEM OUT!!!!
Report Post »Rip Curly
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 3:13amGovernment should be ridiculed. Government should be disregarded whenever possible and dissolved as soon as possible. Government if fundamentally immoral.
Jury nullification is organized ridicule. It is the disregard of immoral government edicts and actions.
I hope that the Roger Clemens jury gives courage to other jurors around the country to push back against immoral government actions.
The drug war is a war on the American people that benefits the drug cartels and terrorist cells. This prosecution was a result of the insanity of this so called war. End the drug war. Now.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 3:17amThey can put a Ball Player on Trial for Lying… BUT they cannot IMPEACH the Lier In Chief!
Report Post »dcubed
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:18amCongratulations Congress! With all the problems facing the nation and you waste time and money on steroids in baseball. I suggest you investigate why football officials use yellow flags. That should keep you occupied for another five years.
I also find it ironic that it’s a federal crime to lie to a group of pathological liars.
Report Post »loafer4952
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 8:05pmI am glad he got off. Why did congress have there noise in this anyway. This has cost us millions of dollars and for what somebody taking something that really should be there business anyway.
Report Post »This government thinks it should control every aspect of our lives.
Midwest Blonde
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:16amAnd where the hell did you go to school?? You said “Why did congress have there noise in this anyway”
You should have said “why did congress have THEIR NOSE…….” *shaking head*. I’m sure the local high school teaches remedial classes in English. I suggest you take the class.
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 1:24pmI here yu midwest blond. I hat it wen peeple cant spel write.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 6:54pmHow ’bout we now get to doing the people’s business of impeaching the fraud and treasonous wanna-be prez?
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 7:03pmSomeone clever in the Obama world’s Machiavellian political arts need to do an alinsky number on this crew ! Am sure there is a ton of skeletons buried deep in their closets !
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 8:03pmFAST and FURIOUS start the trial NOW.
Report Post »yougottabekidding
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 8:05pmHow much did this cost us and WHY?
Report Post »The idiots that spent all the time and money on this should have been investigating F&F with a dead hero!
Mutiny
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 6:49pmWhat a waste in tax dollars. Congress had no business getting involved in sports.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 7:22pmI wonder how many aske him for an autograph while he was there? just more railroading from the feds and wasting of money to prosecute those they deem necessary and like usual, fail. Good for mr clemmons and his family I was so happy to hear this news I am tired of the feds ruining peoples lives and wasting our money.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 6:40pmDrug test congress…….
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 7:05pmDo they anti-American “dopes” in the White House first.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 6:35pmLet’s see who will be the next American sports figure to be targeted by the anti-capitalist Obama dudes ? Oh, I know : Lance Armstrong ! Wonderful combination : throw some leaked info to the Lap Dog media, hold American sports up to world wide ridicule, AND waste tax dollars ! That’s an Obama Triple Play ! Team Obama.
Report Post »medic506
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 6:24pmIf our DOJ is so ancy to convict someone, subpoena actors and actresses.Grill them about their drug use.
Report Post »lordamercy
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:32amAncy? How about ANTSY.
Report Post »tckid17
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 6:19pmRoger Clemens is the “O.J. Simpson” of the steroids era of baseball. He probably wont be a first ballot Hall of Famer even though he is “not guilty”.
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 1:27pmThere is no doubt in my mind that he DID use steriods and he DID lie to a court about it and commit perjury. But, with all the dopes drooling over everything “sports” these days, it is no wonder he was found “not guilty”. But, did he cheat, yes he did.
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 6:06pmNow wasn’t that just the biggest case the American people were on the edge of their seats for. What a waste of time, money, and manpower. Doesn’t Congress have other pressing issues they could be taking up? Our government is lost, just plain lost and their priorities are all mixed up.
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 6:25pmI agree. They went after the wrong guy for lying to Congress.
Why did they go after Clemens when they should have gone after Geithner?
Report Post »TRILO
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 6:26pmI 100% agree with you. Congress and the Feds can go after Roger Clemens,raw milk producers and guitar makers but they can not seem to find grounds to impeach the TOTUS for any number of his violations of the Constitution, or to arrest Eric Holder for his part in Fast and Furious or go after the EPA for their overreach. Our government is out of control.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 6:45pmThe Federal Government thinks it needs it’s finger in all the pies on the planet. BUTT OUT OF BASEBALL, FOOTBALL and BASKETBALL. If you want to do something ban that @ussy game of soccer.
Report Post »Maxim Crux
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 5:44pmI guess they figured they got enough money from him to let him off the hook.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 6:00pmHow much tax payer money did Holder’s DOJ waste on this?
Report Post »mils
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 6:11pmEXCELLENT!!!!…very pleased!!!!!
Report Post »the DOJ is full of liars, so they believe everyone else lies..
Justus39
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 5:37pmHow can we trust a Justice Department that keeps lying to Congress itself and Selectively enforces the law ? This administration is the most crooked in your face I have seen in my lifetime!
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 7:00pmI agree between the leaking and the ignoring, it certainly is the most blatantly political . And, unfortunately, their politics seems to be blatantly aimed at making America icons look bad : from Wall l Street to the Secret Service to the military to American sports . What American icon do you suppose they’ll do an Alinsky targeting on next ?
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 7:08pmAnd I didn’t mention that the POTUS , himself, has bad mouthed our Supreme Court and the “ do nothing ” congress. Despicable behavior by a very un-presidential Occupier of the White House.
Report Post »NewLife56
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 5:32pmHolder has lied to congress under oath, how many times? When does he go to trial?
Report Post »Geronimo
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 5:31pmGood for Roger!! “Lying to Congress”? Our elected misfits just call it “politics” and to think that people care a rats ass enough to spend all the time and money to PERSECUTE him. Our country must be in much better shape than it is believed to be if this prosecution was even on the agenda.
Report Post »Living In NYC
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 5:29pmThe only reason I care is the MILLIONS of taxpayer dollars that are being wasted by this government prosecuting people who are found INNOCENT. Last week it was John Edwards; this week Roger Clemens…next week Obamacare and don’t forget the Duke Lacross team!
Typical public servants wasting our hard earned dollars by not doing their job right!! Too bad these innocent people can’t personally sue these headline grabbing government officals to get their legal costs back!
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 5:27pmWhew, glad that’s settled…..
Report Post »doomytram
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 5:22pmCongress has bigger things to worry about than Roger Clemens. Next thing you know they will be suing Stephen Colbert for not being funny enough for their ridiculous butts. Congress lies and is pathetic, already, so stay out of base ball and try to do your jobs. Congress and the Just Us dept. are Pathetic.
Report Post »Living In NYC
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 5:31pmIf it gets a headline for some public servant it will happen!!!…Steven better watch out!
Report Post »kindling
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 5:22pmOf all the sports baseball is the best. But no matter which one you plunk big bucks down to go watch it is no different than going to a movie. It is entertainment and the government needs to keep their large noses out of their business. If we had to check into every star that ever had breast implants, or face lifts we would not be watching movies anymore. So what if these players take something to make them faster or bigger or stronger? That is the name of the big bucks game. If they want to alter their bodies it is no different than body builders or Hollywood stars. It is entertainment folks!
Report Post »FrankJHornik
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 5:19pmIf lying to Congress is a crime then all our Senators and Representatives should be jailed everytime they stand up and speak on the floors. It is a sad state when the elected officials who supposed to represent their states instead represent their political parties.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 7:00pmThe irony and hypocrisy is fitting. Liars judging a liar who acquits the liar. Ah, yes, I so want atheists to weigh in on telling us, yet again, how an individuals personal moral compass is all that is needed for society to be their perfect utopia!
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 5:16pmIs it really over? Really? The government won’t spend any more money on this idiotcy? Thank You for great blessings, no more money down that rat hole.
Report Post »SBR308
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 5:38pmThe elected dummies that wasted all this time on this unimportant crap need to be fired in Nov
Report Post »possom
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 5:15pmWho care’s?
Report Post »Dde13
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 5:23pmIf you pay taxes you should care….millions went down the drain…AGAIN!
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