US Congress Singling Out Roger Clemens
“A Congressional committee has taken the first steps toward asking the Department of Justice to launch a criminal investigation into whether Roger Clemens committed perjury during testimony about his use of performance-enhancing drugs, according to three lawyers familiar with the matter,” the New York Times reports.
A draft letter referring Clemens, but not his accuser, Brian McNamee, had been drawn up by staff members for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform by the end of last week, according to two of the lawyers. However, all three lawyers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the matter, said it was possible that McNamee could also be included in the referral by the time it is sent to the Justice Department.
If the committee does decide to refer Clemens alone, it could indicate that the Democratic majority, led by the chairman, Henry A. Waxman of California, had prevailed over any Republican reservations about the truthfulness of McNamee’s statements in the Mitchell report, a subsequent deposition and his testimony at a committee hearing on Feb. 13.
That hearing split along partisan lines, with most Republicans challenging McNamee’s accusation and most Democrats questioning Clemens’s account. The next day, Waxman said he regretted holding the hearing and that he also believed that Clemens did not tell the truth.
Frankly, I find this to be absurd. What do politicians have to do with sports, let alone whether or not athletes use performance enhancing drugs? Clemens should never have been forced to answer any questions on this matter. It’s simply none of Harry Waxman’s business.
The sport should clean itself. Politicians should try to actually pass meaningful laws. They shouldn’t be busy trying to destroy the legacy of one of baseball’s greatest players of all time.
It’s even sadder that this has become a “partisan issue.” Baseball.
Perhaps someone should pick up a baseball bat and… you get the point.
This is a waste of Congress’ time. Good thing there is nothing more important going on in the country to spend their time and effort’s on. I hope I’m not paying for this, but I have a feeling I am. Our Government isn’t broken? Sure, Ok.. everything’s fine..