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Barry Bonds will not be indicted immediately, but the ongoing federal investigation of steroids and possible perjury and tax-evasion charges against the San Francisco Giants star will continue, prosecutors said Thursday.
With the grand jury that had been hearing the case expiring Thursday, speculation had been mounting for weeks that Bonds, one of the biggest names in professional sports, would be indicted. His lawyers had said they were preparing a defense.
But soon after the grand jury reported to the federal courthouse here to begin what was to be the final day of its probe, the U.S. Attorney's office issued a statement saying it "is not seeking an indictment [Thursday] in connection with the ongoing steroids-related investigation."
Later Thursday, Bonds' personal trainer Greg Anderson was freed from the federal prison where he was sent more than two weeks ago after he refused to testify against his childhood friend. The judge had said Anderson was to be held until he agreed to testify against Bonds or the grand jury's term expired.
Anderson's lawyer, Mark Geragos, said a new grand jury would be convened and that Anderson would be the first witness subpoenaed.
"Much has been accomplished to date," said Luke Macaulay, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney Kevin Ryan, "and we will continue to move forward actively in this investigation -- including continuing to seek the truthful testimony of witnesses whose testimony the grand jury is entitled to hear."
Anderson likely holds the key to whether perjury charges could stick against Bonds. He testified in 2003 that he thought substances given to him by Anderson were arthritis balm and flaxseed oil. Authorities suspected the San Francisco Giants slugger was lying and that those items were "the clear" and "the cream" -- two performance-enhancing drugs tied to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, the lab exposed as a steroids supplier to top athletes in baseball, track and other sports.
"Obviously, they think they need Greg to prove perjury," Geragos said Wednesday.
Allegations of steroid use long have plagued Bonds, who passed Babe Ruth in May to become second only to Hank Aaron on the career home run list. They intensified in late 2003, when he testified before the original BALCO grand jury, which took testimony from about two dozen athletes.
Without the trainer's help, prosecutors still could indict Bonds on charges alleging he failed to pay taxes on money made through sales of autographs and other memorabilia. There is also the chance Bonds might be indicted on perjury charges without Anderson's testimony.
"I don't think Barry has violated any laws. Under our system, if the government is going to point a finger at him, the government better be well prepared to," Bonds' attorney, Michael Rains, said. "I will do everything in my power to make sure that Barry gets a tenacious and effective defense."
Anderson was one of five men convicted in the steroids scandal surrounding BALCO. He was sentenced to three months behind bars and three months of home confinement in October after pleading guilty to money laundering and steroid distribution.
He was found in contempt of court and jailed again July 5 for refusing to testify in the Bonds probe.
Federal prosecutors say they need Anderson, in part, to interpret calendars that seem to spell out Bonds' schedule for using performance-enhancing drugs. The calendars were seized by investigators from Anderson's home in 2003.
Source: ESPN.com
With the grand jury that had been hearing the case expiring Thursday, speculation had been mounting for weeks that Bonds, one of the biggest names in professional sports, would be indicted. His lawyers had said they were preparing a defense.
But soon after the grand jury reported to the federal courthouse here to begin what was to be the final day of its probe, the U.S. Attorney's office issued a statement saying it "is not seeking an indictment [Thursday] in connection with the ongoing steroids-related investigation."
Later Thursday, Bonds' personal trainer Greg Anderson was freed from the federal prison where he was sent more than two weeks ago after he refused to testify against his childhood friend. The judge had said Anderson was to be held until he agreed to testify against Bonds or the grand jury's term expired.
Anderson's lawyer, Mark Geragos, said a new grand jury would be convened and that Anderson would be the first witness subpoenaed.
"Much has been accomplished to date," said Luke Macaulay, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney Kevin Ryan, "and we will continue to move forward actively in this investigation -- including continuing to seek the truthful testimony of witnesses whose testimony the grand jury is entitled to hear."
Anderson likely holds the key to whether perjury charges could stick against Bonds. He testified in 2003 that he thought substances given to him by Anderson were arthritis balm and flaxseed oil. Authorities suspected the San Francisco Giants slugger was lying and that those items were "the clear" and "the cream" -- two performance-enhancing drugs tied to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, the lab exposed as a steroids supplier to top athletes in baseball, track and other sports.
"Obviously, they think they need Greg to prove perjury," Geragos said Wednesday.
Allegations of steroid use long have plagued Bonds, who passed Babe Ruth in May to become second only to Hank Aaron on the career home run list. They intensified in late 2003, when he testified before the original BALCO grand jury, which took testimony from about two dozen athletes.
Without the trainer's help, prosecutors still could indict Bonds on charges alleging he failed to pay taxes on money made through sales of autographs and other memorabilia. There is also the chance Bonds might be indicted on perjury charges without Anderson's testimony.
"I don't think Barry has violated any laws. Under our system, if the government is going to point a finger at him, the government better be well prepared to," Bonds' attorney, Michael Rains, said. "I will do everything in my power to make sure that Barry gets a tenacious and effective defense."
Anderson was one of five men convicted in the steroids scandal surrounding BALCO. He was sentenced to three months behind bars and three months of home confinement in October after pleading guilty to money laundering and steroid distribution.
He was found in contempt of court and jailed again July 5 for refusing to testify in the Bonds probe.
Federal prosecutors say they need Anderson, in part, to interpret calendars that seem to spell out Bonds' schedule for using performance-enhancing drugs. The calendars were seized by investigators from Anderson's home in 2003.
Source: ESPN.com