The Department of Justice Drops Criminal Prosecution of Barry Bonds

Instead, the DOJ said the reversal of Bonds’ conviction would stand. Bonds attorney Dennis Riordan decline comment early Tuesday, saying he needed to speak with his client before discussing the case publicly. “As I have said before, this outcome is something I have long wished for”. Bonds’ lawyers have argued that the answer could not amount to a felony, and the 9th Circuit agreed, warning that the obstruction statute used to convict the former baseball star was not intended to criminalize such courtroom testimony.

A jury convicted him of obstructing justice because of the answer he gave when he was asked if his personal trainer Greg Anderson ever injected him with steroids. But he was acquitted on all perjury counts at the original trial and the obstruction of justice ruling was overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals in April. “I am relieved, humbled and thankful for what this means for me and my family moving forward”.

In 2013, a 9th Circuit panel upheld the initial ruling, stating that factually true statements that are intended to mislead or evade can lead to an obstruction of justice conviction.

Bonds’ legal victory is unlikely to win over critics who concluded he cheated by using performance-enhancing drugs, or help him with Hall of Fame voters.

[On the week’s StewPod: The secrets of ‘Major League, ‘ our favorite baseball movie.].

Bonds was initially called to testify before the grand jury probing the BALCO steroid distribution scandal that rocked the sports world. The investigation netted a number of convictions and prison terms, including BALCO mastermind Victor Conte, but it appears the superstar considered the biggish fish got away in the end.

His sentence of two years of probation and 30 days of home confinement was put on hold pending his appeal.

In his third year on the Hall ballot in 2015, Bonds received 202 votes for 36.8 per cent from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

In 2007, Bonds retired from baseball with 762 career home runs, which broke the previous record of 755 set by Hank Aaron.

“Thank you to all of you who have expressed your heartfelt wishes to me; for that, I am grateful”, Bonds said.