(CBS News) WASHINGTON - Roger Clemens has been acquitted on all charges by a
jury that decided he didn't lie to Congress when he denied using
performance-enhancing drugs.
Jurors returned their
verdict Monday after close to 10 hours of deliberation. The outcome
brings an end to a 10-week trial that capped an expensive, five-year
investigation into one of the greatest pitchers in the history of
baseball.
The 49-year-old Clemens was accused of perjury,
making false statements and obstructing Congress when he testified at a
deposition and at a nationally-televised hearing in February 2008. The
charges centered on his repeated denials that he used steroids and human
growth hormone during his 24-year career.
The verdict is the latest blow to the government's pursuit of athletes accused of drug use.
Last
week, Clemens' lawyers tore into the prosecutors' case against the
former pitching great during closing arguments, attacking the government
for bringing the matter to court in the first place and mounting one
last assault against Clemens' chief accuser.
Federal prosecutors painted Clemens as a liar who did not want to tarnish his name.
"He
chose to lie, he chose to mislead, he chose to provide false
statements, to impede Congress' legitimate investigation," prosecutor
Gil Guerrero said last week.
Clemens was charged with
perjury, making false statements and obstructing Congress. The heart of
the charges centered on his repeated denials that he used steroids or
human growth hormone. Jurors heard 26 days of testimony over more than
eight weeks.
"When you take that oath, you've got to tell
the truth," Guerrero said last week in a packed courtroom that included
Clemens' wife and four sons.
Guerrero accused Clemens of
coming up with a "cover story" about the injections received from his
former strength coach, Brian McNamee. Clemens told Congress the
injections were for vitamin B12 and the local anesthetic lidocaine, but
McNamee testified that he injected the pitcher with steroids and HGH.
