Clemens to Be Tried Again on Perjury Charges
Roger Clemens, the former seven-time winner of the Cy Young Award, was in court on Monday for his new trial on perjury charges. He is accused of lying to Congress about using steroids. His first trial was stopped nine months ago just after it started, after the judge ruled the prosecutors had made a mistake.
The judge presiding over the trial said he expected it would take six weeks to complete the new trial. Clemens took notes occasionally during the jury selection from a group of 90 potential jurors. When Clemens was introduced, he stood and faced the pool of potential jurists and said, “Good morning.”
In 2010, Clemens was indicted over the testimony he gave to Congress back in 2008, when he steadfastly denied ever using human growth hormones or steroids. Prosecutors claim they are in possession of evidence that proves Clemens perjured himself and are seeking to discredit his testimony.
On Monday, a list of over 60 potential witnesses for the prosecution was read to the court. Defense lawyers have nearly 30 witnesses for their case. Included in the list are Mike Stanton, Paul O’Neill and Andy Pettitte, players who played with Clemens while he was with the New York Yankees.
A mistrial was declared by Judge Reggie Walton in U.S. District Court just two days after opening arguments at the first trial for Clemens in July of last year. A video clip was shown to jurors by the prosecutors, which included material that had been banned by the judge, unless Clemens’ lawyers raised the information.
