Roger Clemens acquitted on all charges

WASHINGTON (AP) - Roger Clemens has been acquitted on all charges by a jury that decided he didn't lie to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

Jurors returned their verdict Monday after close to 10 hours of deliberation. The outcome brings an end to a 10-week trial that capped an expensive, five-year investigation into one of the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball.

The 49-year-old Clemens was accused of perjury, making false statements and obstructing Congress when he testified at a deposition and at a nationally-televised hearing in February 2008. The charges centered on his repeated denials that he used steroids and human growth hormone during his 24-year career.

The verdict is the latest blow to the government's pursuit of athletes accused of drug use.

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Jurors resumed deliberations in the Roger Clemens perjury trial following a four-day break.

They reconvened Monday morning after deliberating for just a few hours last week.

Jurors didn't meet last Thursday or Friday because U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton had a long-scheduled speaking engagement in New Orleans. He said he would have canceled his trip, but some jurors also already had commitments for those days.

Clemens is charged with lying to Congress in 2008 when he denied using steroids or human growth hormone.

The former pitcher faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine if convicted on all six counts -- but would probably get only 15 months to 21 months under U.S. sentencing guidelines.