http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Am2z...p&type=lgns

 

Lied to Congress faces and of course faces jail time

Edited February 10, 200917 yr by Chi Town Sox

Ouch.

Good for Congress. Take him down, and the rest of them that lied.

More detailed version from ESPN:

According to The Washington Post, federal prosecutors are alleging Tejada made misrepresentations to Congressional staffers during an interview focusing on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.

 

The charge came in "a criminal information," a document that can only be filed with the defendant's consent and usually signals a plea is imminent, according to the report.

 

Tejada is scheduled to appear at 11 a.m. Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, court officials said, according to the Post.

 

Prosecutors did not charge Tejada with lying about allegations concerning his own steroid use, the newspaper reported. Instead, they alleged he gave false statements to Congressional staffers about his conversations with another player about steroids and human growth hormone.

Must be a slap on the wrist (imo).

 

Also I wonder if leaving the Orioles made it so Tejada no longer had Angelos law firm in his corner.

 

Cause I swear when Palmeiro was being investigated Angelos made it clear that he would protect Raffy.

Must be a slap on the wrist (imo).

I wonder what the government gets out of having him do a plea deal.

I wonder what the government gets out of having him do a plea deal.

Probably just to name names.

Obviously lying to congress is a big deal especially if you're under oath, but how is lying to investigators (assuming you're not under oath) a crime? This doesn't make sense to me.

Obviously lying to congress is a big deal especially if you're under oath, but how is lying to investigators (assuming you're not under oath) a crime? This doesn't make sense to me.

 

what kind of question is that? a crime is a crime. its a law. they don't always make sense, although this one does to me.

Obviously lying to congress is a big deal especially if you're under oath, but how is lying to investigators (assuming you're not under oath) a crime? This doesn't make sense to me.

Scenario. Bank robber runs past you carrying sacks of cash. You clearly see which way he's going. 30 seconds later some police officers run up and ask "Which way did he go?" You deliberately point in the wrong direction. You're not under oath at the time.

 

Crime?

 

I'm sure that getting out of the charges of lying to Congress, charges that might have gotten him deported, was a big part of Tejada's motivation for taking the plea deal. He should probably be considered to be copping a plea to some form of obstruction of justice I think.

Probably just to name names.

 

That's the only thing I can think of as well in terms of what the government gets out of him taking a plea deal.

Obviously lying to congress is a big deal especially if you're under oath, but how is lying to investigators (assuming you're not under oath) a crime? This doesn't make sense to me.

 

Man you really like to split hairs on what a law is or is not

Obviously lying to congress is a big deal especially if you're under oath, but how is lying to investigators (assuming you're not under oath) a crime? This doesn't make sense to me.

 

Impeding an investigation. Federally it is a crime, under state law, it may not be.

Here's a link to a Q&A from a book titled Legal Muscle that helps clarify the legal issues related to steroid use/sales, etc.

Edited February 11, 200917 yr by scenario

No jail time in exchange for his cooperation. Names are coming out folks.

No jail time in exchange for his cooperation. Names are coming out folks.

Unless he had something to give investigators I can't fathom why the government would make that deal.

what kind of question is that? a crime is a crime. its a law. they don't always make sense, although this one does to me.

 

I think you misunderstand me. Lying is not a crime in and of itself. G&T makes a good point though - obstructing justice is a crime. It doesn't seem fair however, especially if you're trying to cover for a friend.

Must be a slap on the wrist (imo).

 

Also I wonder if leaving the Orioles made it so Tejada no longer had Angelos law firm in his corner.

 

Cause I swear when Palmeiro was being investigated Angelos made it clear that he would protect Raffy.

I'm pretty sure that the Angelos/Palmeiro thing was brought up after Palmeiro was accused by Canseco, but before he tested positive. I think Palmeiro said he would fight the accusation. Then he wagged his finger at Congress. Then he peed.

Unless he had something to give investigators I can't fathom why the government would make that deal.

Names, names, names and suppliers, and probably also who in baseball management was aware of the issue.

I think you misunderstand me. Lying is not a crime in and of itself. G&T makes a good point though - obstructing justice is a crime. It doesn't seem fair however, especially if you're trying to cover for a friend.

 

It's the law. If I cover for a friend and end up getting jail time because of it, it would suck. But, I wouldn't start crying that it's not fair because that is simply the law.

 

Are you an anarchist?

I think you misunderstand me. Lying is not a crime in and of itself. G&T makes a good point though - obstructing justice is a crime. It doesn't seem fair however, especially if you're trying to cover for a friend.

 

That's exactly why its the law. You're not allowed to lie to cover up criminal activities. The reasoning behind that seems pretty self-evident.

It's the law. If I cover for a friend and end up getting jail time because of it, it would suck. But, I wouldn't start crying that it's not fair because that is simply the law.

 

Are you an anarchist?

 

I don't think it's quite that simple. If you knowingly lie with the intent to protect someone, it could be aiding and abetting or impeding an investigation (or whatever it's called). If you are an eyewitness to a robbery and tell the police you saw nothing because you don't want to get involved, it's not a crime (I don't think).

 

In baseball, if a player who was not using tells an investigator that he knows nothing about steroid use even though he knows every user, should that be a crime? Under federal law, likely yes. In some states maybe not (according to my friend - a law student so TIFWIW - at the DA , New York does not recognize a crime for lying to the police but I've done no research on it).

 

Here, it is clear that Tejada was knowingly lying so these issues don't come up.

Edited February 11, 200917 yr by G&T