WASHINGTON.- Former major league baseball pitcher, Roger Clemens, was acquitted Monday for all perjury charges in a U.S. District in Washington. Clemens was charged on six counts of perjury in a federal trial in 2008, in which he denied taking steroids or any other performance enhancing drugs. Clemens continued to deny the use of these drugs in his testimony before congress, after which he was charged for obstruction of justice and lying to congress et al.
The 49-year-old underwent a trial in April which lasted for 10 weeks. Later after a 10-hour deliberation spread out into the multiple days, Clemens was acquitted on all charges by a jury of eight women and four men in the U.S. district court acquitted Clemens of all charges.
Once the verdict was announce, Judge Reggie Walton told a teary Clemens, "Mr. Clemens, you are free to go," as reported by USA Today.
Clemens' head defense lawyer Rusty Hardin said to the media who camped out outside the court in huge numbers: "Wow! It's a day of celebration for us...Justice Won out," as reported by CBS News.
Prosecutors made no comments to media, but released a statement later saying: "The jury has spoken in this matter, and we thank them for their service. We respect the judicial process and the jury's verdict," as reported by the Associated Press.
He appeared to court with his wife, Debbie and four sons. On being acquitted, Clemens said, "It's been a hard five years...I'm really thankful for the (friends) that took time to get on a plane... And all you media guys that have been following my career," as reported by CBS News.
Clemens played for four teams during his 23-seasons span with 354 victories. His 4,672 strikeouts ranked third in baseball history. The 49 year-old won seven Cy Young Awards.
