Monday, June 18, 2012

Last Call

And baseball's Rocket Man, pitcher Roger Clemens, has been acquitted of all charges related to his testimony to Congress in 2008.

The case against Clemens involved one count of obstruction of Congress, three counts of making false statements and two counts of perjury. He was not charged with illicit use of performance-enhancing drugs, but his denial of such use was part of the case against him.

A jury found him not guilty on all six counts.

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.

Not that it's hard to find 12 Americans who thought Congress was even less credible than Roger Clemens.  Easiest trial defense ever if you ask me.  Clearly the jury saw it that way.  Looks like Roger is going to skate, steroids or not.

A no-hitter for Clemens in the double header, I'd say.

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