Miguel Tejada Accused of Lying to Congress; Faces Criminal Charges

Miguel Tejada is now in some hot water after being charged with lying to Congress. Miguel Tejada is a Major League Baseball player who is currently a shortstop for the Houston Astros. Previously, Tejada was one of several baseball players called in front of Congress to give testimony about steroid use in the game, as people in Washington began digging for the truth. With many rumors about steroid use in baseball, Congress invited several players to testify, of which they were all asked questions about steroids.

Today the Washington Post reported that federal prosecutors are indeed charging Miguel Tejada with lying to Congress about steroids. They are accusing Tejada of making misrepresentations during the interview, and giving false testimony about the use of steroids. The report itself that was submitted to Tejada does not out-right claim that Tejada took steroids, nor does it question what he stated about taking them himself, but what it does refer to is alleged false statements he made about another player.

There had been a lot of whispers about whether or not Miguel Tejada would eventually be brought up on charges of perjury after his name showed up in the Mitchell Report (a report that George J. Mitchell wrote up on the use of steroids in baseball). The trouble stems from an alleged purchase that Tejada made of human growth hormones, and his involvement in that purchase. Giving false testimony about that incident could be his ultimate downfall, and though the Congress may not accuse him of taking steroids, this is a black mark on his name.

It has been expected in the world of baseball that charges would eventually be brought against Tejada, simply because Congress was so upset that they didn't walk away from their meetings with MLB players with clearer answers. Steroids and their use have recently tarnished quite a few names in Major League Baseball, including Alex Rodriguez, Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds. Now Tejada is officially grouped with them, but could be the first player to see jail time if he is found guilty and given the maximum punishment. The question now becomes whether Congress would actually enforce something like this, or whether Tejada will just get a slap on the wrist.

Sources: Washington Post and The Mitchell Report