Jul 14 2011
Clemens’ Perjury Trial Starts: Prosecutors Confirms Steroids and HGH on Evidence, Defense Attack McNamee’s Credibility
Finally, the long wait is over. The perjury trial of one of the best pitchers in the major league baseball started. Roger Clemens, the seven-time Cy Young awardee with 354 games won in 23 seasons and with an impressive 4,672 strikeouts, was charged with lying to Congress when he vehemently denied that he ever used steroids or HGH. His case is now being heard at a US District Court in Washington.
Steroids Found in Evidences
After giving jury the final instructions, Judge Reggie Walton allowed the defense and the prosecution to give their opening statements on Wednesday. As expected, the prosecution started with a strong assertion that they have evidences that proves Clemens really used steroids. Assistant US Attorney Steven Durham said in the opening statement that they found traces of anabolic steroids from the syringes and gauze pads provided by the state witness Brian McNamee.
The former trainer of Clemens contends that those syringes were used to inject Clemens with steroids and HGH. He alleged that the steroid injections were made in several occasions in 1998, 2000 and 2001.
Evidence Contain Clemens’ DNA
The prosecution also told the jury that those evidences contain Clemens’ DNA. A proof that it really belongs to the pitcher. However, the defense downplays these claims. One of their arguments is the possible contamination of these evidences because it was hidden in a basement or it might be tampered by McNamee.
Rusty Hardin, Clemens’ lead counsel, told the jury that his client did not used performance enhancing drugs during his baseball career. “There will be people who will testify from every stage of his career — high school, Boston, Toronto and Houston — who all say they have never seen any professional (athlete) work like this man did,” said Hardin.
No Credible Source to Connect Clemens to Steroid Use
Hardin contends that there is no credible source to connect Clemens to steroids or HGH use since August 2001. The government’s main source of information is Brian McNamee whose credibility is being questioned by the defense. The defense already unearthed a sexual assault issue against McNamee where he lied to investigators.
There were also many instances where McNamee allegedly gave conflicting statements to federal investigators conducting enquiry on the rampant use of steroids in baseball. Hardin added that if Clemens used steroid to prolong his career, why would he stop. Clemens retired from the sports in 2007.
Clemens Saw McNamee Injected Debbie with HGH
The prosecution also opened the case of Roger Clemens’ wife who was also involved in the use of steroids. McNamee said that he also injected Debbie Clemens with human growth hormone and Roger had full knowledge of it. The HGH allegedly came from Kirk Radomski, the former New York Mets clubhouse attendant, who pleaded guilty for distributing anabolic steroids to professional players. The steroids and HGH that McNamee injected on Roger Clemens also came from Radomski according to the trainer’s account.
On the other hand, Hardin argued that Debbie will tell a different story when she takes the witness stand.
The first set of government witnesses called to testifies were FBI special agent John Longmire, former house parliamentarian Charles Johnson, and Phil Barnett, a House staffer.
[...] in almost the same fate with the Bonds’ case. Judge Reggie Walton declared mistrial on the perjury case of star pitcher Roger Clemens. The trial which is only on its second day is a big blow to the government’s effort in [...]