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Representative: House Oversight Panel Drafting Perjury Referral Against Clemens

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

WASHINGTON —  The top Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Rep. Tom Davis, told FOX News on Tuesday that it is his "understanding" that committee attorneys are drafting a perjury referral that could be leveled against seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens.

Clemens testified before the committee Feb. 13 about the use of performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball. The New York Yankees pitcher told the committee he never used performance-enhancing drugs. His former trainer Brian McNamee told the committee he injected Clemens more than 20 times over his career.

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., is a member of the committee and one of the most vocal questioners at the Feb. 13 hearing. Cummings said he wasn't sure if the committee drafted a perjury referral. But he told FOX News that "there's enough to warrant (the Department of) Justice to look into it."

If the committee believes Clemens didn't tell the truth, it can refer the testimony in question to the Justice Department for possible prosecution.

Davis, R-Va., chaired the initial hearing three years ago looking into steroid abuse in baseball.

In 2006, the oversight panel took issue with former Baltimore Orioles star Rafael Palmeiro after he testified under oath he never used performance-enhancing drugs. Major League Baseball suspended Palmeiro several months later after a drug test came back positive.

The committee earlier sent a perjeury referral to the Justice Department regarding testimony from Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada. Tejada told the committee he did not use performance-enhancing drugs. But a report compiled by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell indicated that Tejada used steroids and human growth hormone.

FOX News' Chad Pergram contributed to this report.

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