Former MLB All-Star pitcher Clemens pleads not guilty to perjury charges
August 31st, 2010 - 2:59 am ICT by BNO NewsWASHINGTON D.C. (BNO NEWS) – Former Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star pitcher Roger Clemens pleaded not guilty to perjury and obstruction of justice charges on Monday.
The seven-time Cy Young award winner pleaded not guilty to the charges of lying to the Congress about whether he used steroids of human growth hormone in 2008.
Clemens, 48, previously said that he will fight the charges and U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton set April 5 as the date for choosing a jury. Clemens could face up to 30 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine.
After his testimony in 2008, federal authorities decided to charge Clemens with one count of obstruction of Congress, three counts of making false statements and two counts of perjury. Prosecutors believe that if convicted, he would face no more than 15 months of imprisonment.
However, any conviction will further damage his image, reputation, and more importantly his chances of being elected one day for the MLB Hall of Fame.
Clemens and his former trainer Brain McNamee testified under oath at a hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in February 2008. Clemens was asked to testify along his personal trainer, Yankees’ pitcher Andy Pettitte, retired second baseman Chuck Knoblauch and former Mets clubhouse worker Kirk Radomski.
During the hearing, Clemens and McNamee contradicted each other. The trainer told federal investigators that he injected steroids and human growth hormone into the All-Star pitcher at least 16 times in 1998, 2000 and 2001.
Clemens denied the allegations and accused McNamee of making up the claims. He said that the substances that McNamee injected into him were vitamin B12 and the painkiller lidocaine.
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