Congress Seeks Clemens Perjury Probe

(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."

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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.

[fstop100]

Congress lies to us all the time. I guess we have double standards!

[gunshack1]

misands, I could not have said it better. Please everyone e-mail your congressman and tell them to stop this cr@p. We really do have bigger problems.

[mcvet]

Congress would not be involved if Clemens had not wanted his day in front of them to tell everyone he is innocent.


Posted by AJMarine1 at 10:18 PM : Feb 27, 2008
+ report abuse

I tend to agree. The WHOLE "War on Drugs" is a farce and a waste of tax payer dollars. Besides they let Bush and Darth thumb their noses at due process and the justice system, why bother with this guy lying? Semper FI

[stupidrules3]

I want to know when they are going to investigate professional wrestling. The guys are such a bad example for our youth. They openly display roid rage, bad manners, questionable ethics and really bad fashion sense.
I sent e-mails to both my senators about this farce and one (Lamar Alexander) didn''t even bother to reply.
Of course, he hasn''t responded to any of my e-mails about illegal immigration, out of control government spending, corporate corruption, or ethics legislation either.

[baileyccc]

Clemens is through. No speeches in his future.

[mikekleber]

With the country going down the toilet, who will be able to pay to see a game? God help us all.

[misands]

The economy is in the toilet, gas is excepted to reach $4 a gallon this summer, food prices are soaring and excepted to get way worse, unemployment is rising, the Iraq mess is draining our country of our financial and military resources (death toll about to pass 4,000!), almost every day now someone in our country is going on a major killing spree, and this is what our Congress is worried about....some stupid baseball player who cheats by injecting himself with drugs. Good grief!
God help us all, for our great nation appears to crumbling before our every eyes as this government, Democrats and Republicans alike, continue to fail it''s people!!!! When will "we the people" get over this silly partisanship and take our government back???

[bm6005]

Don''t you guys have something important to do? Who gives a rat''s a ss about sports. It''s more of your distraction from the sc rewing you''re giving us. ALL of you! Remember folks, vote out ALL incumbents in November.

[ajmarine1]

Congress would not be involved if Clemens had not wanted his day in front of them to tell everyone he is innocent.

[keithle1]

DON''T YOU HAVE ANYTHING MORE IMPORTANT TO WORRY ABOUT?