Congressman Asks Justice Department To Drop Clemens Case
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WASHINGTON — A Democratic congressman from New York is calling for the Justice Department to drop its perjury investigation of Roger Clemens, saying that federal investigators have more important matters to deal with, such as terrorism and rising crime.
Rep. Anthony Weiner, who represents parts of Queens and Brooklyn, said yesterday he had sent a letter to Attorney General Mukasey asking the government to reconsider its investigation of Mr. Clemens.
“Make no mistake, I believe that lying to Congress is a serous matter,” Mr. Weiner told reporters. “However, the Justice Department has to make decisions about how we allocate what are essentially very scarce resources.”
The congressman, a Mets fan, said that Mr. Clemens would still suffer the humiliation of a damaged reputation along with potential financial consequences stemming from a drop-off in endorsement contracts. “The sanctions against Roger Clemens are going to be pretty severe,” Mr. Weiner said. The FBI has responded to a request from two senior House lawmakers to probe whether Mr. Clemens lied under oath about his alleged steroid use at a congressional hearing last month.
