Roger Clemens Pleads Not Guilty on Charges He Lied to Congress

WASHINGTON -- Roger Clemens said all of four words at his arraignment, but it set the stage for a trial that could begin during the opening week of the 2011 Major League Baseball season.

"Not guilty, your honor," the seven-time Cy Young Award winner uttered in his only words in U.S. District Court on Monday.

Clemens, who had the tips of his hair dyed blond, sat alongside his three lawyers at the hearing that lasted a little more than 10 minutes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Durham said during the hearing the government had "voluminous" evidence that Clemens, 48, lied to Congress two and a half years ago when he said he never used steroids or human growth hormone.

After Judge Reggie Walton released Clemens on his own recognizance and restricted the former hurler's travel to within the U.S., Clemens took off his dark blazer and hopped into a waiting black Cadillac Escalade bound for an airport, where he was set to fly back to South Carolina for a golf tournament. He didn't talk to the reporters leaving the courtroom, even as about a dozen photographers and reporters gave chase down Constitution Ave.

None of the lawyers in the case spoke to reporters, hardly a surprise since Walton issued a gag order last week.

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Walton set an April 5 trial date, although it's unclear whether both the prosecution and defense would be ready to go ahead at that time. Had Clemens' legal team requested a speedy trial, the jury trial could have commenced as soon as Nov. 8. The two sides will meet in front of Walton for a status hearing on Dec. 8.

"There's a good deal of scientific evidence to examine," Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin, told Walton.

FanHouse reported previously that one of the primary reasons prosecutors sought an indictment was the evidence kept by Clemens' former friend and personal trainer Brian McNamee. McNamee turned over bloody gauze and syringes that allegedly contained Clemens' blood as well as empty vials of steroids.

A description of the evidence was part of the discovery -- which included a 34-page index and 12 computer disks of data -- the government turned over to Clemens' legal team on Monday

Clemens was charged Aug. 19 on one count of obstruction of Congress, three counts of making false statements and two counts of perjury tied to his testimony in front of Congress in Feb. 2008, where he told a House panel that he had never used steroids or human growth hormone.

If convicted, Clemens faces a $1.5 million fine and up to 21 months in prison under current sentencing guidelines.