Cue the ’roid rage: A D.C. federal grand jury indicted former Yankee and baseball legend Roger Clemens for allegedly lying to Congress in 2008 about his use of performance-enhancing drugs.
The Rocket, a fabled pitcher with 4,672 strikeouts, is now facing six counts: one of obstruction of Congress, three of making false statements and two of perjury.
Clemens responded Thursday to a federal indictment with a statement on his verified Twitter account: “I never took HGH or Steroids. And I did not lie to Congress. I look forward to challenging the Governments accusations, and hope people will keep an open mind until trial. I appreciate all the support I have been getting. I am happy to finally have my day in court.”
If convicted of all charges, the seven-time Cy Young Award winner could face up to 30 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine.
“Our government cannot function if witnesses are not held accountable for false statements made before Congress,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen Jr. “Today the message is clear: if a witness makes a choice to ignore his or her obligation to testify honestly, there will be consequences.”
In contentious and at times bizarre-seeming testimony nearly three years ago before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Clemens repeatedly denied claims made by his former personal trainer, Brian McNamee, that he used anabolic steroids and human growth hormone.
“Let me be clear,” Clemens told the House committee in sworn testimony on Feb. 13, 2008. “I have never taken steroids or HGH.”
Under questioning from House members, a combative and pugnacious Clemens repeatedly denied taking either substance during his baseball career.
McNamee said he injected Clemens with both substances at least 16 times between 1998 and 2001 — claims emphatically denied by Clemens.
Former Yankee teammate Andy Pettite told committee investigators that Clemens told him about using HGH — a claim Clemens also denied, saying Pettite “misheard” or “misremembered” their conversation.
A report by the House committee after the 2008 hearings noted that Clemens’ testimony “quickly devolved into a nationally televised show trial” of sharply conflicting statements. Either Clemens or McNamee was lying to Congress, the committee concluded, in referring the matter to the Justice Department.
In all, the federal indictment lists 15 statements Clemens made to committee members and staff that he knew to be misleading or false, including his repeated denials of using or discussing with others his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs.
“As far as we’re concerned, it’s vindication,” Earl Ward, one of McNamee’s attorneys, told the Associated Press after Clemens’ indictment was announced.
It was unclear when Clemens would return to Washington from his home in Houston to appear in court. The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton, who presided in the I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby perjury and obstruction trial.
The retired pitcher has played for Boston, Houston, Toronto and the Yankees. He last played the game in 2007.
After the 2008 House hearing, Clemens filed a defamation lawsuit against McNamee. A Houston federal judge dismissed most of the claims, and Clemens lost the argument on appeal.
The congressional investigation into performance-enhancing drug abuse in Major League Baseball grew out of the 2007 report by George Mitchell, a former ambassador and Senate majority leader, detailing rampant use of the drugs in the sport.
