Roger Clemens indicted for lying to Congress

(AP) - Legendary baseball pitcher Roger Clemens wasindicted by a federal grand jury Thursday for allegedly lying toCongress, the latest episode in one of American sports' worst-everscandals, the rampant

News 12 Staff

May 22, 2014, 7:27 PM

Updated 3,793 days ago

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(AP) - Legendary baseball pitcher Roger Clemens wasindicted by a federal grand jury Thursday for allegedly lying toCongress, the latest episode in one of American sports' worst-everscandals, the rampant use of performance-enhancing drugs in the1990s and early 2000s, and leaves Clemens' legacy in jeopardy. Now, instead of baseball's Hall of Fame, the seven-time winnerof the Cy Young Award for pitching excellence could go to prison. Clemens was vehement when he testified before a congressionalcommittee in 2008: "Let me be clear. I have never taken steroidsor HGH." The six-count indictment alleges that Clemens obstructed acongressional inquiry with 15 different statements made under oath,including denials that he had ever used steroids or human growthhormone. Former Rep. Tom Davis, the top Republican on the House ofRepresentatives panel at the time of Clemens' testimony, called it"a self-inflicted wound." Clemens had been prominently mentioned in the Mitchell Report,Major League Baseball's own accounting of its steroid problem, andhe went to Capitol Hill on his own to clear his name. "Clemens was not under subpoena. He came voluntarily," Davissaid. "And I sat there in the office with (committee chairman)Henry Waxman and said, 'Whatever you do, don't lie."' Clemens was sticking to his story Thursday. He insisted he wastelling the truth, again denying any wrongdoing on or off thefield. "Roger is looking forward to his day in court," Clemens lawyerRusty Hardin told a news conference. "He is happy this has finallyhappened. We have known for some time this was going to happen.We'll let everything get taken care of in court." "I never took HGH or Steroids. And I did not lie to Congress,"Clemens said on Twitter. "I look forward to challenging theGovernments accusations, and hope people will keep an open minduntil trial. I appreciate all the support I have been getting. I amhappy to finally have my day in court." Hardin said federal prosecutors made Clemens a plea offer but herejected it. Hardin declined to comment on details of the proposedplea deal - which ordinarily involves admitting to a crime whileavoiding the scenario of a multiple-count indictment as happened inthe Clemens case. Clemens faces a combined maximum sentence of 30 years in prisonand a $1.5 million fine if convicted on all charges. However, underU.S. sentencing guidelines, he would probably face no more than 15to 21 months in prison.