I think it's likely that Clemens will be prosecuted for perjury and probably end up with a prison sentence. If the old cans/junk recently given to prosecutors by McNamee support McNamee's allegations, then it will be hard for Clemens not to be prosecuted--as he will have blatantly lied multiple times in situations in which perjury is a crime.
The prosecutors who will look at this situation first are one from California, who are presumably the ones who have already been doing the sports/steriods prosecutions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/sports/baseball/14novitzky.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
When the Mitchell report first came out, I was surprised that Clemens spoke up so vociferously. The evidence looked fairly compellling, and even if it wasn't, I don't think Clemens' aggressive and public approach was the right strategy.
If the allegations are even partially true or supportable, Clemens has now lied numerous times, not some small or or one-time statement that could be argued to be something other than lying. Despite who he is, I don't see how prosecutors and Congress can let him get away with lying like this--again assuming they believe he has been lying. If they let something this blatant and this public go, it will encourage others to try the same tact in similar situations--or so their argument will go.
In addition, I think Clemens will be called to testify in front of a grand jury, sooner or later--perhaps in connection with the investigation of someone else or himself. He absolutely will have to take the 5th amendment then. If he doesn't, and the prosecutors thing he's perjured himself, he will definitely be charged in that situation.
If he is convicted of perjury or pleas to it or something similar, I don't see how he can be given a slap on the wrist. I think it will include prison time.
I wish this weren't the case. I like Clemens. This didn't have to occur. He could have kept his mouth shut. I think he would have gotten into the hall of fame anyway, as he is so big, generally liked, and so many other players have admitted or been linked to steriods.
The prosecutors who will look at this situation first are one from California, who are presumably the ones who have already been doing the sports/steriods prosecutions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/sports/baseball/14novitzky.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
When the Mitchell report first came out, I was surprised that Clemens spoke up so vociferously. The evidence looked fairly compellling, and even if it wasn't, I don't think Clemens' aggressive and public approach was the right strategy.
If the allegations are even partially true or supportable, Clemens has now lied numerous times, not some small or or one-time statement that could be argued to be something other than lying. Despite who he is, I don't see how prosecutors and Congress can let him get away with lying like this--again assuming they believe he has been lying. If they let something this blatant and this public go, it will encourage others to try the same tact in similar situations--or so their argument will go.
In addition, I think Clemens will be called to testify in front of a grand jury, sooner or later--perhaps in connection with the investigation of someone else or himself. He absolutely will have to take the 5th amendment then. If he doesn't, and the prosecutors thing he's perjured himself, he will definitely be charged in that situation.
If he is convicted of perjury or pleas to it or something similar, I don't see how he can be given a slap on the wrist. I think it will include prison time.
I wish this weren't the case. I like Clemens. This didn't have to occur. He could have kept his mouth shut. I think he would have gotten into the hall of fame anyway, as he is so big, generally liked, and so many other players have admitted or been linked to steriods.
