WASHINGTON (AP) — Roger Clemens’ defense lawyer tells jurors that evidence purportedly showing the pitcher used steroids was manipulated by his former strength coach, Brian McNamee.
Rusty Hardin said in his opening statement Tuesday at Clemens’ perjury trial that evidence collected by McNamee was a “mixed up hodgepodge of garbage.”
Hardin says his team will contend that McNamee mixed steroids with Clemens’ DNA into a needle to frame the star pitcher. Hardin said that McNamee had used the needle to inject Clemens with vitamin B-12.
Clemens is accused of lying to Congress when he denied using steroids or human growth hormone.
Hardin said, “We’re here because a man dared to deny” he was guilty of crime. He said the government should never prosecute someone for trying to clear his name.
