Clemens' Not-Guilty Plea is 1st Step in Expected Perjury Trial Saga
A not-guilty plea by famed baseball pitcher Roger Clemens yesterday is only the beginning of a long courtroom saga, predicts Sports Illustrated. The magazine’s lengthy article lays out the expected procedure in the high-profile perjury case against Clemens over his 2008 testimony before Congress on performance-enhancing substances.
Although he is represented by two well-regarded attorneys, Rusty Hardin of Texas and Michael Attanasio of San Diego, whether Clemens follows their advice could be a crucial issue in the case, the article suggests.
“The decision to have Clemens actually ask to testify before Congress, and then to testify without immunity, was idiotic,” an unidentified lawyer tells the magazine. “No good lawyer would have agreed to that without first obtaining immunity for the witness. That kind of decision-making doesn’t bode well for Clemens in this trial.”
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com (February 2008): “DOJ Perjury Probe of Roger Clemens Sought by Congressional Committee”
ABAJournal.com (February 2009): “Most of Roger Clemens Defamation Suit is Dismissed”
ABAJournal.com: “Baseball Great Roger Clemens Indicted on Charges He Lied to Congress”
