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Roger Clemens Defense Rests Its Case In Perjury Trial

Updated: Tuesday, June 12 2012, 08:31 PM CDT



WASHINGTON (AP) -- The defense in the Roger Clemens perjury case has rested, without the former pitcher testifying.

After the defense said it had rested its case, the jury was cleared from the room and U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton asked Clemens if he was aware of his right not to testify.

Clemens came up to the podium, leaned in, and said, "Yes sir, I am, not testifying."

Walton asked him if he had a chance to discuss the decision with his lawyers.

Clemens replied, "Yes judge, I sure have."

On Friday, Clemens' wife, Debbie, testified that her husband was not present when she received a shot of human growth hormone from his strength coach. That contradicted a small portion of the testimony from the coach, Brian McNamee, who is the former pitching star's chief accuser in the case.

Forensic toxicologist Bruce Goldberger, a witness for the defense, said that the evidence against Clemens is lacking because of the potential for contamination.

Government witnesses have testified that some of the physical evidence had both steroids and Clemens' DNA. Goldberger didn't challenge that but said the government's conclusions that Clemens had used steroids were overreaching.

Clemens is charged with lying to Congress in 2008 when he denied taking steroids or human growth hormone.
Roger Clemens Defense Rests Its Case In Perjury Trial