Clemens Arraignment Slated for Monday in D.C.
Officials at the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., say that seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens will be arraigned on Monday afternoon on criminal charges.
The former pitcher will appear before U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton for allegedly lying to Congress about his use of steroids.
Judge Walton presided over the perjury and obstruction trial of Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. No date was set for Clemens' initial court appearance.
A federal grand jury's indictment of Clemens deals a further blow to baseball, reinforcing the game's image as a sport where the use of performance enhancing drugs was widespread.
The six-count indictment alleges that one of the most dominant pitchers of his era obstructed a congressional inquiry with 15 different statements made under oath, including denials that he had ever used steroids or human growth hormone. As he did when he testified to a House committee in 2008, the seven-time Cy Young winner denied using the substances again Thursday and said he will fight to clear his name.
"I never took HGH or Steroids. And I did not lie to Congress," Clemens said on Twitter. "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."
Clemens is just the latest superstar to be ensnared in baseball's steroid scandal. All-time home run king Barry Bonds is scheduled to go on trial in March on charges of lying to a federal grand jury when he said he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs. Slugger Mark McGwire admitted earlier this year to using steroids.
Clemens, who turned 48 this month, ranks ninth on the career list with 354 victories and was an 11-time All-Star. During a 23-year career that ended in 2007, he played for the Boston Red Sox, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Yankees and the Houston Astros and struck out 4,672 with a lifetime 3.12 ERA.
The rampant use of performance-enhancing drugs in the 1990s and early 2000s has been one of baseball's worst scandals. The indictments against Clemens raise new questions about whether the superstar will ever be enshrined in the sport's Hall of Fame - and might instead spend time in prison.
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