Roger Clemens Pleads Not Guilty. Now what?
Yesterday, former Red Sox and Yankee star pitcher entered a plea of not guilty to federal perjury and obstruction of Congress charges. This story was widely reported but little was mentioned about what happens with Clemens' case between now and the April 5, 2011 trial date.
Well, it may not be front page news but the defense now gets to conduct document discovery from the prosecution. Until this moment, the defense likely possessed very few official reports held by the government, but this is about to radically change.
Clemens' defensive team is basically entitled to a copy of the prosecutor's file. This means the defense will now have access to investigative reports, police reports, witness statements, and grand jury testimony. This information is critical for the defense lawyers to develop their plan of attack against the government's case. However, these documents should also go a long way in showing how strong the prosecution's case against the Rocket may be.
We know Clemens has turned down a plea bargain that didn't carry jail time. After Roger reviews the "care package" he is about to get from the Feds, I wonder if he will have any second thoughts.
My name is Christopher Fusco. I am the managing partner of Callahan & Fusco, LLC with offices in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.