Washington, D.C. – The trial of superstar pitcher Roger Clemens started today with prosecutors beginning with opening statements. Speaking for more than an hour relaying dates and times where the government believes that the 7-time Cy Young Award winner told lies and more lies to cover up previous lies.
The judge issued a ruling that former team mate Andy Pettitte could testify about taking Human Growth Hormone but not where he got it from. Both sides tried to stop the proceedings many times for rulings until after 5pm they angered an already impatient Judge Walton.
Walton told both sides,
“Keep it simple. … Boom! Move on,”
12 jurors have been sat over the last five days. All twelve said they didn’t know much about baseball with seven of the jurors saying they had never heard of Roger Clemens. They listened as the prosecutor told them all about Clemens’ relationship with personal trainer Brian McNamee and how Clemens made the decision that no matter who asked he would not disclose his use of steroids.
Prosecutors told the jury,
“The end will show that he made his choice and he was going to lie.”
Clemens is accused of lying to Congress and in a deposition. He claimed he never used steroids or human growth hormone during his 28 season career. McNamee, Clemens’ trainer says he personally injected Clemens with both steroids and Human Growth Hormone.
This is not Clemens’ first trial. The government originally brought him before a jury last year. Two days into the case the prosecutors had shown a videotape to jurors that had previously been ruled inadmissible. A mistrial was declared.
