The federal government is doing everything is can to convince a California jury that former baseball superstar Barry Bonds knowingly used anabolic steroids and lied about it under oath during his grand jury testimony. The long-awaited Bonds perjury trial, officially named the United States of America v. Barry Bonds, begins next week. The prosecution’s case against Bonds isn’t particularly strong for a federal case but after spending over $60 million pursuing Bonds in their witch-hunt, they can’t very well give up now.
The government had counted on the testimony of Greg Anderson, Bonds’ long-time friend and personal trainer, as being the crucial nail in the coffin for a conviction of Bonds. They didn’t count on Anderson’s refusal to give into the government’s shameful intimidation tactics and his willingness to go to jail rather than testify in the witch-hunt against Bonds.
Prosecutors are hoping they can convince the jury of guilt by association since Anderson provided steroids to other players. Several current and former baseball players will testify that they received anabolic steroids from Anderson. So if they obtained steroids from Anderson, Bonds must have received steroids too, right?
Jason Giambi, Jeremy Giambi, Marvin Benard, Armando Rios, Benito Santiago and Randy Velarde are all expected to testify that Greg Anderson gave them steroids. Yet, they have no direct knowledge of Bonds steroid use.
The “most damaging testimony” may be that of Bobby Estalella. Estalella, the “poster boy of the chemicals” according to the Mitchell Report, claims Bonds admitted using steroids.
USA v. Barry Bonds begins on Monday, March 21, 2011.
Photo credit: suikris / flickr
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