Is There A Smoking Gun Pointed At Clemens?

Physical Evidence Against Pitcher Abounds, But Will It Be Of Any Use?

(CBS)  CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports on the evidence that may decide who was telling the truth in Wednesday's steroids hearing on Capitol Hill.

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The hearing quickly took on the tone of a trial.

There were exhibits, affidavits, medical records. The search for truth buried in a sea of conflicting information.

The best physical evidence against Roger Clemens, the "smoking guns" may be these bloody gauze pads, vials and syringes his former personal trainer Brian McNamee said he used to inject the Yankees pitcher with steroids and human growth hormone in 2000 and 2001, CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports.

A former police officer, McNamee told the committee he kept the material in waste-disposal box at home for years - for one reason: "While I liked and admired Roger Clemens, I don't think I ever really trusted him."

Federal authorities have reportedly sent the evidence to a lab for testing, setting up a potential forensic duel.

A specialist in DNA analysis, Lawrence Kobilinsky of John Jay College, says matching Clemens' DNA - if he agrees to provide a sample - to dried blood and trace amounts of anabolic steroids and HGH, is possible, even after eight years.

"The most important thing is we're dealing with DNA, we're dealing with protein, steroids," Kobilinsky said. "I don't think doing the analysis is an issue - there will be results. But how you interpret those results becomes crucial in this case."

Clemens' attorneys, including Rusty Hardin, have already made this pitch - accusing McNamee of manufacturing evidence.

Legal experts say defense lawyers could have a field day with evidence that sat around someone's home.

"We don't know where it went to between the time it was used and the time that it was placed into the custody of federal law enforcement officials," said CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen. "...Just don't know those answers yet."

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Read More About Congressional Hearing Face Off
Read more from Cohen on Couric & Co. blog.
Watch RAW video of the Clemens hearing.

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So odds are the evidence will be inadmissible in court because there's no telling who handled it. That means we're talking about the court of public opinion here, and not the court of law.

[uradufuss]

Let me just add, that we are not trying to cover-up anything! When we read some of these allegations, we are in stitches! You people are sew inconsiderate!

[uradufuss]

I am a member of that quilting club, and I can tell you right now, there is not a thread of truth to those allegations! The evidence is patchy, at best. I wish people would just stop needling us!

[denn034]

Yeah, the obvious truth is the smoking gun. Now, who here really believes Clemens?

[traderdays]

The country is in economic crisis. We are at war so why is congress even wasting time with sports issues that don''t matter and should not be the federal governments issue. Congress go to work on real issues. We should vote out of office every congressman involved in this investigation.

[whatithink-2009]

Hello. Congress made it an issue because many people made it an issue with Barry Bonds. Unless it was a personal vendetta with Bonds, you can''t now say it is no big deal. If it was a big deal for one, it has to be a big deal for all.

[bookwerm314]

There IS STUPIDITY evidence that CONGRESS IS STUPID! Please stop wasting taxpayer time and money on this! It is a friggin game, why don''t you fix our health care, solve immigration probs, get rid of the deficit, and generally DO YOUR JOB instead of chasing after s h i t than Ain''t your problem you spineless pathetic losers of a congress.

[tibu987]

Who Cares?

Our young American soldiers are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan, the world is sinking into a hole of bad decisions, our political process leaves a lot to be desired, our economy is sinking fast as the Chinese and other foreign countries are rising rapidly. People are losing their homes all over thre U.S., the evil Bush cabal continues to rule while their ship is quickly sinking.
Gimme a break, let''s get our priorites right for a change.

[ioweign]

What exactly does Bush gain from taking US to war?

Posted by kkelly0425 at 01:11 PM : Feb 14, 2008

Oil for his Oil buddies...

[ioweign]

SHURCH4TRUTH as for WMD, Saddam said that he lied to the US about his WMD because he did not think that US would really invade, he thought US would just do air strikes as they did before. US went to war under false pretense due to Saddam''''s lies. What exactly does Bush gain from taking US to war?

Posted by kkelly0425 at 01:11 PM : Feb 14, 2008

Saddam said that he lied to the US about his WMD because he did not think that US would really invade -

Wrong - Saddam said he had none and the UN Weapon Inspectors said there were none and the UN inspectors wanted to continue searching.

Saddam - wanted the Iranians to believe he had them - when questioned by the US he didn''t lie...

[ioweign]

I think that you have forgotten the greatest lie of all from the White House was from Demoract Clinton..."I did not have sexual relations with that woman!" And Clinton was not impeached!!!

Posted by kkelly0425 at 12:35 PM : Feb 14, 2008

Wow - some comparison we have going on here - The "greatest lie" - singular, uno, one and how many were killed by it - Now let''s look at Bush - so far it is at 935 - you got that - 935 and look at all the lives that this scumbag has ruined. This dry drunk''s behavior is going to haunt YOUR grandkids...

[kkelly0425]

SHURCH4TRUTH as for WMD, Saddam said that he lied to the US about his WMD because he did not think that US would really invade, he thought US would just do air strikes as they did before. US went to war under false pretense due to Saddam''s lies. What exactly does Bush gain from taking US to war?

[ioweign]

ssmd2- Bill Clinton was impeached though this has little to do with the current topic. As for Clemens, sounds familiar. All too often, an angry/defiant denial (Marion Jones) later reveals a tearful, pathetic confession (once proven guilty). Character and integrity absent. Oh wait, maybe that''''s the tie back to Clinton(s). I get it.

Posted by fedup_11 at 12:49 PM : Feb 14, 2008

Bush and Cheney will spend the rest of their lives with the 935 so far documented "false statements". Oh wait - Lies and all the carnage that followed...

[fedup_11]

ssmd2- Bill Clinton was impeached though this has little to do with the current topic. As for Clemens, sounds familiar. All too often, an angry/defiant denial (Marion Jones) later reveals a tearful, pathetic confession (once proven guilty). Character and integrity absent. Oh wait, maybe that''s the tie back to Clinton(s). I get it.

[kkelly0425]

ssmd2 I think that you have forgotten the greatest lie of all from the White House was from Demoract Clinton..."I did not have sexual relations with that woman!" And Clinton was not impeached!!! He went on to continue his term. Now Hilary wants back in the White House and who is gonna babysit Bill while Hilary is trying to figure out what outfit to wear that day to the Oval Office? Bill will be hanging out with all of the interns!!! Please, everyone do the country a favor...DO NOT VOTE FOR HILARY!!! We do not need another round of Clinton!!!

[padams1010]

I can NOT believe MY tax money is being spent in this manner. WHO CARES IF ANY ATHLETE USES "anabolic steroids and HGH"? They are ALL grown men PLAYING A GAME!! It''s NOT like they have the weight of the free world in their hands!! Their actions certainly do not affect me or my livelihood!! Don''t our elected officials have anything BETTER to do? AND how can THEY (elected officials) sit their on their "assured lifetime retirement" plans (a.k.a. a$$es) and call anyone else a crook? They need to get back to the REAL WORK they''ve been elected to do for we, the people!! Not we, the media!!!!

[lelyflamingo]

And ROGER should join Barry in the cell, along with a tube of Astrogilde. Hello babyface

[talkingham]

What kind of scumbag keeps needles around for 7 years?
The trainer should be executed. And the committee investigating this should have to work without pay because who gives a d.

[rushlimpdrug]

MY WISH:

If your congressperson is involved in any of this waste of time I wish you would call them and tell them to get to some REAL PROBLEMS to deal with.

Who are they fooling?

We all know that Congress is the biggest pile of liars between the Atlantic and Pacific.

If they can''t deal with the REAL business of America, they should resign and work for major league baseball.

[lelyflamingo]

I belive Roger too !!!!THAT HE USED

[jdubs63]

I BELIEVE YOU ROGER.HANG IN THERE............