Congress Seeks Clemens Perjury Probe

House Asks Justice Department To Investigate Whether Pitcher Lied Under Oath

(CBS/AP)  Congress will ask the Justice Department to investigate whether Roger Clemens made false statements under oath to a House committee.

CBS News has learned that the chairman and the top Republican on the oversight committee have sent a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey requesting a perjury investigation because they think Clemens lied when he said he never took steroids or human growth hormone.

In that letter, Democrat Henry Waxman and Republican Tom Davis said they believe that Clemens' sworn denial that he ever used anabolic steroids or human growth hormones "warrants further investigation."

"That testimony is directly contradicted by the sworn testimony of Brian McNamee, who testified that he personally injected Mr. Clemens with anabolic steroids and human growth hormone," the congressmen wrote.

"Mr. Clemens's testimony is also contradicted by the sworn deposition testimony and affidavit submitted to the committee by Andrew Pettitte, a former teammate of Mr. Clemens, whose testimony and affidavit reported that Mr. Clemens had admitted to him in 1999 or 2000 that he had taken human growth hormone."

Earlier this month, Clemens and his former trainer Brian McNamee made contradictory statements to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

After a 4½-hour hearing on Feb. 13, Congress settled for a draw in a he-said, he-said between the two men over whether the seven-time Cy Young Award winner used performance-enhancing drugs.

It was Clemens' denials of McNamee's allegations in the Mitchell Report that drew Congress' attention.

The Feb. 13 hearing generally divided along party lines, with Democrats giving Clemens a rougher time, and Republicans reserving their toughest questions for McNamee.

But Waxman and Davis jointly appealed to the Justice Department.

"For the good of the investigation and integrity of the committee, we've asked the Department of Justice to get to the bottom of this," Davis said.

In Florida, Clemens refused for the second day in a row to comment on his denials of steroid use.

When arriving at the Houston Astros' minor-league training complex in Kissimmee, Florida, today, Clemens said "I did all I'm gonna do yesterday."

That's when Clemens refused to answer questions about reports Congress may ask the Justice Department to investigate whether he lied under oath when he denied using steroids or human growth hormone.

The seven-time Cy Young Award winner plans to pitch batting practice over the next three days to Astros minor leaguers, including his oldest son, catcher Koby Clemens. He has a personal services contract with the Astros that kicks in when he officially retires.

[lorinkundert]

Is this what we pay congress to do? They have no place interfering in the private sector.

[jjarden]

Clemens is a No-Good, Lying, Bloated, Scumbag...I should Know...I''m from Boston.

[fstop100]

I am glad congress is so pure, if they investigated themselves their would be no one left to investigate Clemens

[fstop100]

Hey jjarden
If you are from Boston lying and cheating is a w ay of life 18 and 1= not perfect.

[uradufuss]

"I''m just gonna'' move on!" --R. Clemens--

Yes, move on to federal prison...

[jjarden]

Hey fstop100...I''m a good natured guy...that was kind of funny...I got a laugh out of it!...Thanks.

[xraytwonine]

can we spend our *** tax money on something else, ***, what the *** is wrong with you people, he''s a *** athlete, let it go, no *** big deal, lance armstrong is doping like crazy, no one cares, cause bicycling is considered a "gay sport"

so what about baseball?! just cause its so *** American so we have to make it big *** deal aobut it? does baseball and nascar equate our national identity?! take him off the team and LET THIS *** GO

[cbsblogger]

lorinkundert says....Is this what we pay congress to do? They have no place interfering in the private sector.

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I agree so why then are we building stadiums for them and giving them hundreds of billions in other government pork under the guise of economic development. So you think pro-sports could afford to pay them many million dollar salaries if they had to fund their own stadiums and playing venues? We''re subsidizing the millionaire bxstards.

[ponco seno]

CONGRESS "STOP SPENDING MY TAX DOLLAR ON THIS ***"
I WILL MAKE SURE I REMEMBER EVERY CONGRESS MAN INVOLVED ON THIS BS. WE WILL CATCH UP TO YOU ON THE NEXT ELECTIONS.

[mbcsmith]

I can''t believe the LIB congress is working on this and not the terrorist surveilance act. Amazing. Yep, change you can count on. Vote LIB.

[ponco seno]

Clemens is a No-Good, Lying, Bloated, Scumbag...I should Know...I''''''''m from Boston. - Posted by jjarden

I''''m a die-hard Houston Astros fan and Clements is a good picher that got us into the World Series for the first time. But hey, I''''m living in Texas,where
no-good, lying, scumbags can become President of the US. Maybe that''''s why he was such a good fit.

Posted by nokoolaid at 01:43 PM : Feb 27, 2008


WHO CARES, IS A GAME. WE ARE THE STUPIDS WHO PAY THE OUTRAGES PRICES TO GO SEE THIS WEASELS.

[rowdytexan2]

I can''''t believe the LIB congress is working on this and not the terrorist surveilance act. Amazing. Yep, change you can count on. Vote LIB.


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Posted by mbcsmith at 01:45 PM : Feb 27, 2008

The FISA bill? Because they know they don''t need one.

And they all know that to get rid of terrorists, we have to wait ''till we get our own terrorists out of the White House and VP office.

[rowdytexan2]

I think a law ought to be passed that thes prima dona jerk can''t get paid more than $100,000, if that much. What the hell makes a ball player worth more than someone doing a full day''s, full year''s work?

[prinzowhales]

Vile...Contemptible...Corrupt...Congress! These animals pursue some ball player while ignoring the decline in value of the dollar...ignore escalating foreclosures...ignore the criminality that moved us into the wars for resources...ignore the skyrocketing unemployment rates...ignore the open borders...Vile...Contemptible...Corrupt...Congress... Hopefully, its next session will be in ''ell!

[missingamerica]

Ya hear that, Republican Tom Davis? badaxmofo has made you a Democrat...

[demslie]

As we saw with Scooter Libby, anything you say will be used by Democrats to prosecute. Clements should have kept his mouth shut. He spoke because, like Libby, he thought he had nothing to hide, without realizing that Democrats don%u2019t care if he told the truth. They will prosecute anyway because that%u2019s what the Trial Lawyers and Democrats do. IRAN is trying to build atomic bombs so world wide terrorism can nuke our civilization back to the stone-age, but endless investigations is what our Democrat controlled Congress is concerned about. This is the new "Change for America" that they promised us.

[ponco seno]

Someone send a copy of this blog to congress, can it be done?

[shingles1]

And Congress wonders why their ratings are in the crapper.

[rowdytexan2]

As we saw with Scooter Libby, anything you say will be used by Democrats to prosecute. Clements should have kept his mouth shut. He spoke because, like Libby, he thought he had nothing to hide, without realizing that Democrats don%u2019t care if he told the truth. They will prosecute anyway because that%u2019s what the Trial Lawyers and Democrats do. IRAN is trying to build atomic bombs so world wide terrorism can nuke our civilization back to the stone-age, but endless investigations is what our Democrat controlled Congress is concerned about. This is the new "Change for America" that they promised us.


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Posted by demslie at 02:13 PM : Feb 27, 2008

Actually what we''ll be getting rid of is the buffooon in our White House yelling hot air across the ocean at the buffooon in the East!

[joyous88]

no one cares about this junk,

our clowns in congress should be doing something more inportant,

like finding a way to save us from the republican recession

[perception5]

Doesn''t our 110th Do Nothing Democrat Congress with the lowest approval ratings in the history of any Congress have anything "better" that they could be working on instead of this?

Where am I wrong?

[ponco seno]

Can we FIRE all the folks in congress involve with this case? TODAY!!!

[mbcsmith]

I can''''''''t believe the LIB congress is working on this and not the terrorist surveilance act. Amazing. Yep, change you can count on. Vote LIB.


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Posted by mbcsmith at 01:45 PM : Feb 27, 2008

The FISA bill? Because they know they don''''t need one.

And they all know that to get rid of terrorists, we have to wait ''''till we get our own terrorists out of the White House and VP office.



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Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 01:53 PM : Feb 27, 2008

This is the moron.org mentality. Come on LIB, call our ranking general in Iraq a traitor again. Show America what total pieces of shiite LIBS really are.

[ponco seno]

CONGRESS:
Go an impeach BUSH and CHENEY, be usefull for once.

[perception5]

CONGRESS:
Go an impeach BUSH and CHENEY, be usefull for once.


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Posted by RealityToday

............What''s the charges? and where''s the proof?

Repeating olde Dem and libeal MSM wolfpack lies don''t count I''m afraid.

[craigh9]

YEAH - let''s spend a few million dollars to investigate a charge that would never stand up in court. Pettite doesn''t count- its hearsay, the supposed evidence was imporperly stored or cataloged so it is useless. One more grandstand play by our congressmen that want to get their names in the paper. Do us all a favor and drop it all.

[ponco seno]

perception5 - what about misleading the country into war and getting 4300 troops killed and countless more Iraqui civilians......

[perception5]

perception5 - what about misleading the country into war and getting 4300 troops killed and countless more Iraqui civilians......


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Posted by RealityToday at 02:36 PM : Feb 27, 2008

.......RealityToday, please copy and post the proof. Or is it "guilty until proven innocent"? Please paste the proof so we can all "believe" otherwise why don''t we all fall back on the olde American way "innocent until proven guilty".

We don''t need anymore liberal intolerance or lies.

Have a nice day.

[ponco seno]

perception5,

misleading the country into war- IS A LIE? OK Mr Republican Conservative if you say so....

[redhoffer]

This hearing was so sad. It was obvious to any non-idiot that Clemens lied. McNamee injected Clemens'' wife and not Clemens? Pettite lies? Everyone besides Clemens cooborated McNamee.

Yet the republicans get to just rant against all logic and their followers let them.
It was a blatant example of republicans caring not for the truth and that their followers are mere "ditto heads", anybody capable and willing to think for themselves knows Clemens is a perjurer, he must have that pardon in his back pocket to be so brazen.
If I voted for one of those republicans I''d be ashamed, but them I guess I wouldn''t care that they are murdering our soldiers as well so why would I worry about the truth.

[ekucrew]

Laughable pic by CBS of Clemens! He looks like he has "some between the cheek and gum" or just a big, nasty plug of "baccur" in his his jaw. haahhahaa

[rebecca1973]

Past is past. Move on. Now that the rules are in place in each sport, hopefully all sports figures will follow them. Congress needs to deal with pressing issues other than sports. And I bet each and every Congress member has a lie that they are holding onto that can make our head spin.

[roger_inkart]

Clemens is a self-centered, lying, cheating, arrogant moron who believes the rules don''t apply to him.

In other words, say hello to a future Republican member of the US Congress.

[einsteinian-2009]

This is not necessarily a waste of tax dollars. It all depends on how you look at it. I personnaly think that if this teaches a lesson to young sportsmen that these substances can do you more harm than good in the long run, then go ahead and investigate. An investigation is also another manner to illustrate to the younger generation that lying, in a situation such as this one, also does more harm than good, especially to the person who lied, and that nobody is above the oath.

[ianlou]

This case belongs in a court, and this story belongs on the sports page, period.

[soldierboy37]

What a freaking waste of our tax payer money!!!!

[dredre2k]

Can our congress do anything less productive? Who CARES about a baseball perjury probe! I don''t! I care about what will happen to the country when gas reaches $4.00! Only in America I guess...

[jegibbons]

Take this chump out behind the woodshed, if you can prove he lied but waste not another moment of the Congess''s time on this kind of B-LL$@#T.

We''ve got Marines in need of proper fighting equipment and this ******* Congress thinks this is a priority??

Remember this on voting day.

[denn034]

Lying in a grand jury testimony is perjury, it''s no different from testifying in a court of law. Clemens did lie and this is a legitimate inquiry.

[tomanyt]

denn034...How do you know he lied?

[bozworth4]

Guess it would be worthless to have a probe of the number of times congress has lied to the taxpayers.
However the probe wouldn''t take lont if they stopped at the first lie. No democrats or republicans only politicians that would pimp their mother for a Euro.
Not a crime to do drugs? Only a crime to lie about it.

[redhoffer]

tomanyt - I know Clemens lied because all of the other witnesses and persons interviewed and all of the evidence shows he lied.
It is easy.
Check out the Mitchell Report, read the hearings transcript, it is easy.
I think this is a waste as well, but I am offended at someone lying brazenly in front of congress and they should pay (and not get pardoned). If I lied under oath in such a blatant manner I would expect I would go to jail, that''s what should happen to Clemens as a matter of intregity.
I could care less which baseball players used drugs, I think most did and they are all guilty of allowing steroids to invade the game.
I do care about someone lying in an obscenely obvious manner under oath.

Ego is a terrible thing. Maybe the hard time will change him but I doubt it.

[donbl1]

This Congress is all about media exposure and getting reelected.

What a mess and waste of tax money.

Get rid of the whole bunch.

[hmikem]

Drug test congress why don''t we!!!!!!

[mgsmom2004]

Oh really? So baseball as a national and long lasting cultural tradiion in our country does not matter?

The influence that star baseball players have on young people does not matter?

That young people are using steriods because the "Stats" are, and dying, does not matter?

Maintaining truth and integrity when it involves one of our country''''s most s cared for traditions does not matter?


suggestion: read some books for a change and learn about the concepts of history, truth, integrity, customs, traditions, and why its important that Congress keeps an eye on these things so our civilization survives and does not get destroyed by want of greed or fame or indifference.



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Posted by SHURCH4TRUTH at 04:07 PM : Feb 27, 2008



SERIOUSLY?? I am sorry, but I thought it was the parents responsibility to keep an eye on their children and teach them right from wrong, not our government. I hardly think that our current Congress is in any position to be pointing fingers at people who lie. We have bigger issues and problems in this country. What they are doing is a waste of time and tax payer money. I could give a rats a** if Clemens used steroids and I don''t think that our government should either.

[rushlimpdrug]

First they came for the short stop, and that was cool.

Then they came for the slugger, and that was cool.

Then they came for me, the rocket, and that was not cool.

So everyone pleeze help me.
I''m innocent.
We''re all innocent.
Really.
Don''t let them take us.
Someone help us.

[ichabod57]

So we should really waste even more taxpayer money, just because some baseball player may or may not have taken steroids? I really think we are wasting enough taxpayer money already.

[fstop100]

Let Baseball handle it, whats next, football, pro wrestling, it will never stop. They do this so we won''t focus on our crooked congress, a diversion tactic, very useful in Washington.

[rushlimpdrug]

Where are the idiots and what are the names of these wasted garbage that can take up the time of the government - including staff to look into this krap? ? ?