Roger Clemens' perjury trial: What you need to know
One of the greatest pitchers in baseball history is being accused of lying to Congress about his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens went on trial Wednesday, facing charges that he lied to Congress when he testified that he had never used performance-enhancing drugs. Clemens, whose seven Cy Young awards make him the most decorated pitcher in baseball history, once seemed a sure bet for the sport's Hall of Fame. Now, he may just be hoping to avoid prison. Here, a brief guide to the trial, which is expected to last up to six weeks:
What do prosecutors say Clemens did wrong?
They've listed 15 statements he made to Congress that they say were false or misleading. For that, they've charged him with obstructing Congress' investigation into performance-boosting drug use in professional baseball. They say Clemens lied when he told members of Congress that he never used human growth hormone, or anabolic steroids. He's also charged with lying when he said his trainer, Brian McNamee, had never injected him with vitamin B12.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
How much prison time could he face?
He faces six counts in all, and each of them is punishable with up to five years in prison. That means, technically, that he could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted on all counts, plus a fine of up to $1.5 million. But sentencing guidelines call for a sentence of between one and two years if he's convicted on all charges. Of course, he could also strike a plea agreement with prosecutors.
What is Clemens' defense?
The pitcher's attorneys reportedly plan to base their case on Clemens' claim that he did not know what was in the injections McNamee gave him. McNamee is expected to testify that he injected Clemens with steroids and Human Growth Hormone (HGH) many times in 1998 and 2001, and that Clemens knew what he was getting. Clemens has said that he always thought McNamee was just giving him vitamins.
How will the two sides try to prove their cases?
Clemens' lawyers want to play a tape of Clemens' congressional testimony, because they say his tone and inflection will support his case. But Congress so far has provided only a transcript, which has angered U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton, who is hearing the case. Prosecutors will call McNamee to the stand to tell his version of the story. They'll also try to back up what McNamee says by questioning Andy Pettitte, Chuck Knoblauch, and Mike Stanton, all former teammates of Clemens who say they knowingly got injections of performance-enhancing drugs from McNamee. But that might not happen, as Walton says their testimony could be unfair.
Is prosecuting Clemens really worth it?
Probably not, says Jerome Solomon at The Houston Chronicle. The government's case is weak. "It is a classic he said-he said case, and as entertaining as it stands to be, in the end it won't be worth the money or the time." Indeed, when the Feds went after Barry Bonds, baseball's home run king, over his alleged lies regarding steroid use, "the taxpayers had to cough up more than $55 million to pay for it," says John Stossel at Fox News. "I bet Clemens' case will cost at least that. Why should you have to pay for this?"
Sources: Houston Chronicle (2)(3), Fox News, NY Times, Wash. Post
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
6 thrilling reads chosen by Ken Follett
Feature The historical novelist suggests works by Frank Herbert, Charles Dickens and more
By The Week Staff Published
-
Dress-down democracy
Feature What we lose when we shun suits and ties
By Theunis Bates Published
-
Recipe: chicken and ricotta meatballs in broth by Julius Roberts
The Week Recommends A warming soup for autumnal evenings with orzo, crème fraîche and dill
By The Week Staff Published