An investigation into possible perjury and tax-evasion charges against San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds remains very much ongoing, though no indictments were issued Thursday, federal prosecutors said.
It remains unclear if Bonds–or perhaps others–might yet face criminal charges in an investigation tied to the BALCO case, the most far-reaching doping scandal in U.S. sports history.
“We have postponed that decision for another day in light of some recent developments,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin Ryan, the chief federal prosecutor in San Francisco.
A few moments earlier, outside the front of the federal courthouse here, Bonds’ attorney, Michael Rains, said, “There is at least temporary relief.”
But in a telling sign that the matter is far from over, Bonds’ personal trainer, Greg Anderson, was released from custody Thursday morning and served almost immediately with a subpoena ordering him to testify next Thursday before a new federal grand jury.
Anderson’s refusal to testify before the grand jury had landed him back behind bars July 5 at a federal detention center in Dublin, Calif.
Bonds, according to Rains, asked , “When can I go back to working out with [Anderson]?” Later, Bonds hit his 722nd off the Padres’ Brian Sweeney, leaving him 33 behind Hank Aaron all time.
The Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative scandal, which began in 2003, has sparked presidential interest and repeated congressional hearings about the role of drugs in sports, in particular baseball. Under congressional scrutiny, Major League Baseball has moved–twice–to toughen penalties for the use of banned performance-enhancing substances.
The scandal moved to the courtroom in 2004 when Victor Conte, founder of BALCO, was indicted, along with Anderson and others, accused of running a steroid-distribution ring.
Conte and Anderson pleaded guilty in July 2005 to steroid distribution and money laundering. On Oct. 18, Conte was sentenced to four months in prison and four months’ home confinement; Anderson received three months in prison, three months’ home confinement.
In December 2003, Bonds testified before the BALCO grand jury. According to transcripts obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, Bonds testified that he had never knowingly used steroids.
The expiration of the grand jury’s 18-month term sparked intrigue nationwide that indictments could be forthcoming.
But the U.S. attorney’s office in San Francisco issued a statement Thursday saying it was “not seeking an indictment today.”
The statement also said, “Much has been accomplished to date, 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,” a clear reference to Anderson.
Bonds’ attorneys struck conflicting notes.
“This is a moment of humility,” Rains said. Yet he also said, in reference to the prosecution, “They don’t even have enough to indict a ham sandwich, let alone Barry Bonds.”
