Posted on 11/10/2005 9:24:55 AM PST by My Favorite Headache
WASHINGTON Nov 10, 2005 — Baseball star Rafael Palmeiro will not be prosecuted on perjury charges after lawmakers said Thursday there isn't enough evidence to prove he lied when he told a congressional panel under oath that he had "never used steroids" six weeks before failing a steroid test.
The investigation did not conclude whether Palmeiro had actually ever used performance-enhancing substances.
"We couldn't find any evidence of steroid use prior to his testimony," House Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., said in releasing a 44-page report. "That's not a finding of innocence, but it's a finding that we could not substantiate perjury."
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At issue was Palmeiro's statement at a House Government Reform Committee hearing March 17: "I have never used steroids. Period." On May 4, he failed a Major League Baseball drug test, coming up positive for an anabolic steroid. In August, shortly after baseball suspended Palmeiro for 10 days, Davis said Congress would look into whether the player committed perjury.
"We have a responsibility, an obligation, to investigate it, and that's what we've done," Davis said during a news conference in the same hearing room where Palmeiro had testified in March.
Davis said the steroid for which Palmeiro tested positive is detectable for three to four weeks, shorter than the gap between his failed test and Capitol Hill appearance.
"We were not concerned with why he tested positive or how he tested positive except for how that related to his testimony," Davis added.
Palmeiro issued his first detailed public comments on the case Wednesday, including a possible explanation for why he might have failed a steroid test even though he says he never knowingly took steroids: a tainted vitamin shot given to him by a teammate.
The former Baltimore Orioles slugger is one of four players in baseball history with 500 homers and 3,000 hits and the timing of his positive test means Palmeiro knew he faced a suspension as he approached the hit milestone this summer.
Pops positive for steroids. Lies it was a B-12 shot. Yet, no evidence. Only from the US Congress could such a finding be rendered. LOL, what a bunch of total morons. However, THAT, I ready knew.
There case of perjury is stronger on him than on Libby.
Should have been the same finding in the Plame case but it took a special prosecutor 2 years to make the same finding.(I'm referring to Rove and Cheney)
These are "healthy" athletes shooting up each other, yaknow. That kind of sickens me to hear that.
I thought only doctors and medical personnel or diabetic folks or folks requiring blood thinners or such usually handled hypodermic needles.
Oh well. What do I know. Obviously a bit more than elected reps who apparently are shooting "poisoned pork" up in the back room before and after compiling findings like this.
Glad we solved the whole War on Terror thing so that now Congress can turn their attention to what really matters.
The "elected officials" use those back rooms to shoot and snort their dope also. Kennedy, well, he just drinks in public for all to see. He hides nothing.
Why does that statement really bother me? He can't be half-guilty...he is or he isn't. If there isn't enough evidence and they cannot charge or indict him, then by definition, since he hasn't been charged or indicted, he is innocent.
This shouldn't be construed as my condoning his use of steroids. I don't condone it and won't condone it. But you cannot convict him of perjury with innuendo instead of evidence.
It's called the "Mapes Syndrome".
Why do I get the feeling this is just the beginning of the no charges being filed for perjury...is Galloway next?
Good one!!
Nothing will get you in trouble faster than telling a lie to the biggest conglomeration of liars ever asembled in the same place..., unless of course you're a Dim or Dim supporter.
Rafael Palmeiro , 41 (bio)
baseball player $4,000 Republican
Contributor Candidate or PAC Amount Date
PALMEIRO, RAFAEL MR.
COLLEYVILLE, TX 76034
TEXAS RANGERS/PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL BUSH, GEORGE W (R)
President
BUSH-CHENEY '04 COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE INC. $2,000
general 08/17/04
PALMEIRO, RAFAEL MR.
COLLEYVILLE, TX 76034
TEXAS RANGERS/PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL BUSH, GEORGE W (R)
President
BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC $2,000
primary 07/23/03
Data Provided by the Federal Election Commission as of 10/31/05 -- 11,964,632 records
For a major league baseball player to contribute $4,000 is like an average person contributing $20.
Oops.
Legally it is all he is allowed to donate.
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