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Clemens found not guilty in perjury trial
Former baseball pitcher Roger Clemens is joined by his wife, Debbie Clemens, at the U.S. District Court in Washington.
June 18th, 2012
04:15 PM ET

Clemens found not guilty in perjury trial

[Updated at 4:55 p.m. ET] Famed baseball pitcher Roger Clemens was found not guilty Monday of lying to Congress during an investigation of steroid use among major league players.

The case against Clemens involved one count of obstruction of Congress, three counts of making false statements and two counts of perjury. He was found not guilty on all counts.

"Mr. Clemens, you're free to go," Judge Reggie Walton said after the verdicts were read in U.S. District Court in Washington.

Clemens on verdict: Time to be thankful

Clemens wiped away tears as he hugged his sons in the courtroom following the verdicts.

He was not charged with illicit use of performance-enhancing drugs, but his denial of such use was part of the case against him.

Arguments in the trial concluded last week. Federal prosecutor Courtney Saleski, in closing arguments Tuesday, told the jury Clemens "wanted to protect his brand, he wanted to protect his livelihood," in denying the use of steroids during a 2008 investigation by the U.S. House of Representatives into the problem.

The Clemens defense team disputed whether the government has made its case, telling the jury all the evidence came through a former personal trainer, Brian McNamee, who the defense team said had incentive to lie.

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soundoff (97 Responses)
  1. Kyle

    Guilty as charged. Another Yankee cheat / liar

    June 18, 2012 at 4:25 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • M Thompson

      Was that the best you could come up with?

      June 18, 2012 at 4:31 pm | Report abuse |
    • ScoJas

      Shows your ignorance – Clemens supposedly used steroids as a Blue Jay.

      June 18, 2012 at 4:48 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Doug

    No offense, but who cares? I have no clue why Congress even wasted its time questioning MLB players. Didn't they have more important, pressing issues at the time?

    June 18, 2012 at 4:26 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • nobrainer

      +1,000

      June 18, 2012 at 4:31 pm | Report abuse |
    • pup461

      Amen Doug. No matter what you think of Clemens, this whole trialis a farce!

      June 18, 2012 at 4:45 pm | Report abuse |
    • Justin

      I agree Doug, why are they wasting there time on this? what happened to the local law enforcement?

      June 18, 2012 at 4:48 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Rocket75

    Why not put congress on trial for committing perjury to the citizens?!?!

    June 18, 2012 at 4:27 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • mentalfloss

      great idea Rocket!!

      June 18, 2012 at 4:36 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Rob

    Imagine that, HE is on trial for lying to Congress but Congress isnt on trial for lying and corruption toward the US? Something stinks in fishville!!

    June 18, 2012 at 4:29 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  5. AWorkingAmerican

    Let's see... economy in rags, foreign policies non-existant, national agenda... not so much, energy policy driven by other countries, a trade policy with as many teeth as Nemo, and "Mommy, Roger Clemens lied to me". Now that is something worth stopping the country for...

    June 18, 2012 at 4:32 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  6. ladyfonseca

    Well said Rocket!

    June 18, 2012 at 4:34 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  7. yellownumberfive

    When you lie to Congress, it's perjury.

    When Congress lies to you, it's a campaign promise.

    June 18, 2012 at 4:37 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  8. willie james

    Clements, a lifelong Republican is followintg in his parties footsteps.

    June 18, 2012 at 4:39 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  9. Dave

    why are the taxpayers dollars wasted on this? i love baseball but never/still don't understand why congress is involved with sports instead of running the country.

    June 18, 2012 at 4:45 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  10. Bob

    What a waste of tax payer dollars.

    June 18, 2012 at 4:46 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  11. Byteme

    Not guilty on all counts.

    June 18, 2012 at 4:47 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  12. EddyL

    What a stupid waste of time.

    June 18, 2012 at 4:48 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  13. bobandtom

    not guilty

    June 18, 2012 at 4:49 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  14. jonmag

    so bonds is guilty and clemens is not guilty??!?! right I see whats going on :) touche

    June 18, 2012 at 4:49 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • Kellee

      This is the New Nazi KKK America but now they don't care and getting more blatant about it. Of course they were going to find Bonds guilty he's not even part black, but Roger is full blooded Aryan so of course even with all the evidence against him and the fact that the charges were lying he was found not guilty. I honestly believe that countdown begin for the racial revolution in America when Obama was elected. Of course he is part white, but you can't reason with white people when it comes to the 1/8 rule.

      June 18, 2012 at 5:03 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Rick CT

    I think Clemens is a crumb and he probably was juiced, but this is just another government waste of our money. Now we have the tapxpayer supported USADA going after Lance, who is at least 500-0 on drug tests.

    June 18, 2012 at 4:49 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • Touche

      Well said, let's get these sports out of the courtrooms! It's ridiculous!

      June 18, 2012 at 4:54 pm | Report abuse |
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