Tweet
A federal judge told prosecutors to redraft their multiple-count indictment of Barry Bonds and ordered the slugger's 2003 grand jury testimony unsealed on Friday.
Among other information contained in the unsealed 149-page court transcript is evidence of an additional positive steroids test beyond the previously reported one in November 2000, sources familiar with the government's evidence told ESPN's T.J. Quinn.
The U.S. Attorney's office had previously disclosed that Bonds tested positive for testosterone, but information about other failed tests has not been previously disclosed.
U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston ordered prosecutors to amend Bonds' indictment so that each of the five counts against him don't cite multiple statements that prosecutors say are false.
Prosecutors originally accused Bonds of lying 19 different times during his grand jury appearance, and charged him with four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice.
Illston agreed with Bonds' attorney Dennis Riordan that prosecutors must edit out many of the alleged lies or seek a new indictment, which could contain more charges.
Prosecutors are expected to decide whether to seek a new indictment before Bonds' next court date March 21. They declined comment outside court.
Bonds' 2003 grand jury testimony was extensively reported on by the San Francisco Chronicle in December 2004 and in the 2006 book "Game of Shadows," written by the reporters from the original newspaper account. However, Friday was the first time the entire court document was released.
Bonds was not required to attend Friday's hearing and has been excused him from the next court date, too.
The November indictment came just three months after the San Francisco Giants star broke Hank Aaron's career home run record, and it culminated a four-year investigation into steroid use by elite athletes.
During his grand jury appearance in 2003, prosecutors presented Bonds with a drug test showing a positive steroids result for a player they called "Barry B." Bonds said he had never seen those test results.
Investigators said they seized other evidence against Bonds, including an alleged "doping calendar" maintained by Anderson, who spent about a year in jail for refusing to help investigators.
Anderson, who was released after Bonds was indicted, is expected to be called to testify if Bonds' case goes to trial. Anderson maintains he will refuse to testify if ordered, meaning he could return to prison.
Bonds, who has not signed with a team for the 2008 season, posted a message on his Web site Thursday, but did not mention his criminal case.
"I have been getting a lot of e-mails asking what I've been up to this past offseason. This winter has been the first time in my career that I've had the chance to take time for myself and really enjoy the time off. While at home with my family I have been able to work out of my office concentrating on my various companies, attending meetings as well as making a few business trips," Bonds said in a posting on www.barrybonds.com.
"I continue to work out and feel in great shape. Thank you again for your continued support for me and my family; it truly helps keep me strong."
Read the full grand jury testimony given by Barry Bonds in 2003 and unsealed on a federal judge's orders on Friday. Full Transcript (.pdf)
Source: AP
Among other information contained in the unsealed 149-page court transcript is evidence of an additional positive steroids test beyond the previously reported one in November 2000, sources familiar with the government's evidence told ESPN's T.J. Quinn.
The U.S. Attorney's office had previously disclosed that Bonds tested positive for testosterone, but information about other failed tests has not been previously disclosed.
U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston ordered prosecutors to amend Bonds' indictment so that each of the five counts against him don't cite multiple statements that prosecutors say are false.
Prosecutors originally accused Bonds of lying 19 different times during his grand jury appearance, and charged him with four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice.
Illston agreed with Bonds' attorney Dennis Riordan that prosecutors must edit out many of the alleged lies or seek a new indictment, which could contain more charges.
Prosecutors are expected to decide whether to seek a new indictment before Bonds' next court date March 21. They declined comment outside court.
Bonds' 2003 grand jury testimony was extensively reported on by the San Francisco Chronicle in December 2004 and in the 2006 book "Game of Shadows," written by the reporters from the original newspaper account. However, Friday was the first time the entire court document was released.
Bonds was not required to attend Friday's hearing and has been excused him from the next court date, too.
The November indictment came just three months after the San Francisco Giants star broke Hank Aaron's career home run record, and it culminated a four-year investigation into steroid use by elite athletes.
During his grand jury appearance in 2003, prosecutors presented Bonds with a drug test showing a positive steroids result for a player they called "Barry B." Bonds said he had never seen those test results.
Investigators said they seized other evidence against Bonds, including an alleged "doping calendar" maintained by Anderson, who spent about a year in jail for refusing to help investigators.
Anderson, who was released after Bonds was indicted, is expected to be called to testify if Bonds' case goes to trial. Anderson maintains he will refuse to testify if ordered, meaning he could return to prison.
Bonds, who has not signed with a team for the 2008 season, posted a message on his Web site Thursday, but did not mention his criminal case.
"I have been getting a lot of e-mails asking what I've been up to this past offseason. This winter has been the first time in my career that I've had the chance to take time for myself and really enjoy the time off. While at home with my family I have been able to work out of my office concentrating on my various companies, attending meetings as well as making a few business trips," Bonds said in a posting on www.barrybonds.com.
"I continue to work out and feel in great shape. Thank you again for your continued support for me and my family; it truly helps keep me strong."
Read the full grand jury testimony given by Barry Bonds in 2003 and unsealed on a federal judge's orders on Friday. Full Transcript (.pdf)
Source: AP