|
|---|
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Prosecutors and defense lawyers on Wednesday released the identities of high-profile over a dozen possible witnesses in the perjury trial of Roger Clemens, the former baseball star accused of lying to Congress about taking performance-enhancing drugs.
Among those named were former star of the Boston Red Sox Wade Boggs and former New York Yankees Jason Giambi and David Cone. Prosecutors also named Jorge Posada, now a designated hitter and catcher for the Yankees, general manager Brian Cashman.
The names emerged as the jury selection process, expected to continue at least until Monday, began in federal district court. Prosecutors and defense attorneys must reveal the identities of potential witnesses and persons who may be appointed to the prospective jurors to avoid conflicts of interest.
U.S. U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton, who presides over the trial, also asked the jury pool 82 questions that investigated the knowledge of the charges against Clemens, his partnerships with law enforcement and their feelings about the use of doping substances.
Clemens, whose seven Cy Young Awards are a major league record, was charged last year on charges of perjury, obstruction of Congress and making false statements in connection with testimony he gave to a House committee in 2008.
The former star pitcher and said in remarks during a hearing nationally televised before a House committee that he had never taken steroids or human growth hormone. At the same hearing, former trainer Brian McNamee said he injected Clemens with those substances, and the former star pitcher knew what he was doing.
During a brief hearing before jury selection began, Walton expressed irritation at the Congress for refusing to give an audio tape version of a deposition given by Clemens to investigators of the House. The House provided a transcript of the interview, but not the audio tape, a lawyer for the House described as a "backup" to help the typist.
The only way to authorize the transfer of the tape to obtain a decision of the House, the lawyer said. Walton called the lawyer for the House to release the tape to ensure a fair trial for Clemens. The tape may help prove that Clemens did not block the Congress, his lawyers say.
Among those named were former star of the Boston Red Sox Wade Boggs and former New York Yankees Jason Giambi and David Cone. Prosecutors also named Jorge Posada, now a designated hitter and catcher for the Yankees, general manager Brian Cashman.
The names emerged as the jury selection process, expected to continue at least until Monday, began in federal district court. Prosecutors and defense attorneys must reveal the identities of potential witnesses and persons who may be appointed to the prospective jurors to avoid conflicts of interest.
U.S. U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton, who presides over the trial, also asked the jury pool 82 questions that investigated the knowledge of the charges against Clemens, his partnerships with law enforcement and their feelings about the use of doping substances.
Clemens, whose seven Cy Young Awards are a major league record, was charged last year on charges of perjury, obstruction of Congress and making false statements in connection with testimony he gave to a House committee in 2008.
The former star pitcher and said in remarks during a hearing nationally televised before a House committee that he had never taken steroids or human growth hormone. At the same hearing, former trainer Brian McNamee said he injected Clemens with those substances, and the former star pitcher knew what he was doing.
During a brief hearing before jury selection began, Walton expressed irritation at the Congress for refusing to give an audio tape version of a deposition given by Clemens to investigators of the House. The House provided a transcript of the interview, but not the audio tape, a lawyer for the House described as a "backup" to help the typist.
The only way to authorize the transfer of the tape to obtain a decision of the House, the lawyer said. Walton called the lawyer for the House to release the tape to ensure a fair trial for Clemens. The tape may help prove that Clemens did not block the Congress, his lawyers say.
Labels: Entertainment Events
0 Comments:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
