Congress Seeks Clemens Perjury Probe
House Asks Justice Department To Investigate Whether Pitcher Lied Under Oath
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Roger Clemens' sworn denial that he ever used anabolic steroids or human growth hormones "warrants further investigation," according to two House members. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Brian McNamee, left, told baseball investigator George Mitchell that he injected Roger Clemens, right, 16 to 21 times with steroids and human growth hormone from 1998-01. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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Roger Clemens arrives at the Houston Astros spring training facility Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008 in Kissimmee, Fla. Clemens is expected to workout with minor leaguers this week including his son, Koby, who plays catcher. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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Play CBS Video Video Top Sports Brass On The Hill Pro baseball, basketball, football and hockey commissioners appeared to address performance-enhancing drugs and the threat to both the integrity of sports and athletes' health. Susan Roberts reports.
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Interactive Bases Loaded? Steroid use allegations plague Major League Baseball.
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Photo Essay Clemens, McNamee Testify Star pitcher Roger Clemens and former trainer tell Congress two very different stories.
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Interactive The Mitchell Report Investigation exposes "serious drug culture within baseball, from top to bottom."
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."

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.
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Michelle Obama tells how her role as the First Lady has changed her perspective.





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See all 72 CommentsPosted by AJMarine1 at 10:18 PM : Feb 27, 2008
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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
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.
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???
Get a rope and string them ALL up.......
Posted by veteran71 at 07:08 PM : Feb 27, 2008
article about clemens and steroids...no where is bush mentioned....go blame your pathetic life on bush in a relevant news story....you are such a dork
[Posted by veteran71 at 07:08 PM : Feb 27, 2008]
how about mr. gonzalez ... top cop of them all ... lying to congress on multiple occasions ... has no recollection of any meetings.
how''s his perjury investigation proceeding?
Professional athletes have lost their integrity
to good sportsmanship.
They are supposed to be role models!!!
Instead they often get into physical altercations in their respective playing fields over "bad" calls,
have run-ins with the law (some have been convicted for crimes), and cheat and deceive the public with
performance enhancement drugs.
It is time to clean up their act.
Clemens appears to be a dishonest player in baseball, therefore he should be investigated fairly and squarely. This is reality folks.
Congress has better things to do with its time than pursue this sordid story. No wonder its approval rating is in the cellar.
Not much different than previous investigations of drugs, gambling, porn, bribery, and other topics that people lie to Congressional committees about in sworn testimony.
Since little that is necessary or constructive will get done as long as Republicans can block it (health care, immigration reform, torture, war profiteering, etc) Congress might as well spend some time on drug use in pro sports. It might cause some teams and players to tighten up for awhile.
House Asks Justice Department To Investigate Whether Pitcher Lied Under Oath"
This is because, presumably, that congress and the justice department have NOTHING better to do with taxpayer paid time?
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See all 72 Comments