Way back in February, a lawyer for Brian McNamee made headlines when he said that he thought Roger Clemens would escape any criminal prosecution for perjury by receiving a presidential pardon. Clemens is friendly with the former President Bush, as he mentioned during Congressional hearings, and the feeling was that relationship could pay off with a reprieve. Now that the current President Bush is nearing the end of his term, traditionally an occasion for numerous pardons, Clemens' name is again coming up in discussions of potential pardon recipients. An Associated Press article mentions him alongside people like former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, American Taliban member John Walker Lindh and imprisioned financier Conrad Black when discussing who might get pardoned.
Both Lindh and Black have applied for pardons, according to the article, while there's no evidence that Clemens has done so. He'd need to do so before the President could issue a pardon. It doesn't matter that he hasn't been convicted of any crime, see Ford's pardon of Nixon, but if he did apply for one and get it, there would be a major caveat.
Accepting a pardon, especially before conviction, could be read as an admission of guilt. For Clemens, that means avoiding prison, but it also means he'd be unable to ever convince anyone his success, at least partially, wasn't fueled by the help of performance enhancing drugs.
Latest MLB Photos
Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, who headed an investigation into past steroid use by Major League Baseball players, listens during an interview in New York, Tuesday, Nov. 25 , 2008. His report on drugs in baseball tarnished the reputation of Roger Clemens and dozens of other players, led to a toughened agreement between players and owners and left the impression in the minds of many that clubhouses were a supermarket of performance-enhancers. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
AP
Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, who headed an investigation into past steroid use by Major League Baseball players, listens during an interview in New York, Tuesday, Nov. 25 , 2008. His report on drugs in baseball tarnished the reputation of Roger Clemens and dozens of other players, led to a toughened agreement between players and owners and left the impression in the minds of many that clubhouses were a supermarket of performance-enhancers. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
AP
Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, who headed an investigation into past steroid use by Major League Baseball players, listens during an interview in New York, Tuesday, Nov. 25 , 2008. His report on drugs in baseball tarnished the reputation of Roger Clemens and dozens of other players, led to a toughened agreement between players and owners and left the impression in the minds of many that clubhouses were a supermarket of performance-enhancers. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
AP
Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, who headed an investigation into past steroid use by Major League Baseball players, listens during an interview in New York, Tuesday, Nov. 25 , 2008. His report on drugs in baseball tarnished the reputation of Roger Clemens and dozens of other players, led to a toughened agreement between players and owners and left the impression in the minds of many that clubhouses were a supermarket of performance-enhancers. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
AP
Taiwan-born Wang Chien-Ming and pitcher with MLB American League baseball team New York Yankees, speaks during a news conference about his homecoming in Taipei November 24, 2008. The Chinese characters read, "Support your dream". REUTERS/Pichi Chuang (TAIWAN)
Reuters
Taiwan-born Wang Chien-Ming and pitcher with MLB American League baseball team New York Yankees, speaks during a news conference about his homecoming in Taipei November 24, 2008. The Chinese characters read, "Support your dream". REUTERS/Pichi Chuang (TAIWAN)
Reuters
Taiwan-born Wang Chien-Ming and pitcher with MLB American League baseball team New York Yankees, speaks during a news conference about his homecoming in Taipei November 24, 2008. The Chinese characters read, "Support your dream". REUTERS/Pichi Chuang (TAIWAN)
Reuters
LOS ANGELES - NOVEMBER 23: Former MLB player Barry Bonds attends the game between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on November 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Barry Bonds
NBAE/Getty Images
An overview, taken Friday, Nov. 21, 2008, of the new stadium under construction in Reno, Nev. The stadium will be the home of the Triple A Reno Aces, the Phoenix Diamondbacks affiliate. The stadium has seating for 6,500 with a total capacity of 9,000 when including lawn seating beyond the right field fence. (AP Photo/Reno Gazette Journal, Tim Dunn) NO SALES, MAGS OUT. NEVADA APPEAL OUT OUT, SOUTH RENO WEEKLY OUT
AP
Former New York Yankees baseball player Dave Winfield arrives with his wife Tonya for the grand opening of Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai November 20, 2008. The $1.5 billion mega resort with 1,539 rooms is the first resort to open on Dubai's man-made Palm Jumeirah island. REUTERS/Jumana El Heloueh (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)
Reuters
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-29-2008 @ 3:30PM
WackyWade said...
Let him make a complete confession as to his steriod use; and let him make a statement to the effect that Brian McNamee's claims were true--that McNamee is truthful and Clemens is a liar.
Then give the cheating, lying rat a pardon.
Reply
11-29-2008 @ 4:20PM
Kirby said...
Kharma is a wonderful thing! Roger the cheating ass. Cheated the fans and cheated on his family. Go away loser.
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12-02-2008 @ 1:13PM
paul schepel said...
why don't we indite the wwf /
Reply
11-29-2008 @ 5:02PM
Michele said...
Clemens has maintained his innocence. Hey Roger, if you're innocent, why do you need a pardon? Can't have the bread buttered on both sides, pal!
Reply
11-29-2008 @ 5:27PM
Dark Gable said...
I am so proud of you guys for showing the same disdain for clemens as for bonds. I'm used to seeing some race bias here but not today. Makes me think there is hope after all. Happy Holidays guys!
Reply
11-29-2008 @ 6:08PM
Mike said...
"Innocent", yet pardoned? How is that possible? If the IDIOT in Washington pardons "Rocket Mouth", then I guess everyone's questions will be answered as to whether he is guilty of lying to congress, and that he did take the "juice". If anything, a pardon will not work in Clemens' favor, but work against him. He will never get into the hall of fame. You know, I always did wonder how he went from a .500 pitcher his last 4 years in Boston, to a world beater after that. I guess we now know.
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11-29-2008 @ 6:46PM
JIMJIM said...
So there talking about pardoning him . If they pardon him and not the boarder patrol agents . It would show what a backwards country this is . Its who ya know Huh
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11-29-2008 @ 6:57PM
VINCE said...
BUSH MAY PARDON CLEMENS BUT WHO'S GOING TO PARDON BUSH?
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11-29-2008 @ 7:23PM
Barb said...
Bush and Clemens.....both losers, they deserve each other.
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11-29-2008 @ 7:30PM
Chuck said...
For a guy who claims to have done nothing illegal, why would be looking for a pardon.
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11-29-2008 @ 8:00PM
jim said...
Clemens---The loser's loser.
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11-29-2008 @ 8:10PM
rocketthefool said...
a scumbag named bush giving a scumbag named clemens a pardon ? so what?? you're both still scumbags.!
Reply
11-29-2008 @ 9:33PM
Kat said...
The first people that should have been given a pardon, no questions asked, would be the boarder patrol agents. This is one of the most apalling things I think to have even imprisoned these great guys to begin with. These other people have all commited crimes and are being pardoned before them...Bush is an major A-hole!!!!!!!!!! Glad to see him gone soon...
Reply
11-29-2008 @ 10:40PM
john switzer said...
AMEN
11-30-2008 @ 1:36AM
eddie said...
yeah pardon for a man who did what every motherfu**** in baseball did but did not get caught ,on top of that from a steroid report written by another motherfu**** who works for the red sox ,and has an office in fenway ,hey i wonder why there was no red sox players on that report ,lol what a joke yankee fans wipe their as* with that bias report
Reply
11-30-2008 @ 7:43AM
Joe said...
Dear Roger,
You had an affair with a young lady and you have lied to not only to the amrican people but to all of us beloved red sox fans when you stated you would never never never sign a contract with a AL east team.I guess Canada doesn't count.Tell all the american people the truth on roids with Ms Barbara walters then let bush pardon youyou are a piece of crap of a person but a very good pitcher.
Reply
12-03-2008 @ 1:04AM
thefixer508 said...
Typical "Good Ole Boys", backroom, behind the scences, dealings going on If Roger "Juice Man" Clemmens gets any type of pardon! Marion Jones had to give back the medals he should give back the CY Youngs! The fact that he and others lied, to the Faces of Congress, should be jail time right there! If a poor working joe was to testify before congress and lie, We'd be in Big Trouble! These Zillionare "Juicers" Lie, Cheat and Steal money(from the fans) and get away scott free! He needs an asterisk as well!
Roger Clemmons *
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