Mitchell: Congress Should Postpone Investigation

Senator Mitchell said Congress should postpone investigating professional baseball until the league and all 30 teams have a chance to react to his report showing widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs by players.

"I hope they'll let these people take a look at this, analyze it and do the best they can to come up with a reasonable solution," Mitchell said on the "Fox News Sunday" program.

A 20-month investigation sanctioned by Major League Baseball and led by the former Senate majority leader found that 31 All-Stars were among the players who used steroids, stimulants or human growth hormone over the past decade. The 311-page report was released December 13.

Mitchell said that while there was no evidence that fans had turned against baseball because of the scandal yet, the sport may be tarnished if the league fails to address it.

"Baseball has to do something, because if the skepticism that now exists turns to cynicism, then I think people may turn away," he said.

Members of Congress already are planning hearings and starting inquiries based on Mitchell's report.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee plans to hear testimony from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, union chief Donald Fehr and Mitchell in January. A House Commerce subcommittee has planned hearings for January 23.