US Rep. Weiner tells FBI to drop Clemens probe

Queens congressman: Drop case against Clemens

BY ARTHUR STAPLE

Rep. Anthony Weiner has a message for the FBI regarding Roger Clemens: Drop it.

Weiner (D-Forest Hills), a 2009 mayoral hopeful and a Mets fan, said Wednesday he believes Clemens lied Feb. 13 to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. But Weiner said the court of public opinion was better served to judge Clemens than an understaffed Justice Department.

“While there may have been some wrongdoing, I think we should let this issue be waived in light of the other challenges we face,” Weiner said, noting he had sent a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey .saying the same thing.

“The Justice Department has to make decisions every day on how to allocate their limited resources. The end of this investigation will not be taking someone who’s selling HGH to our children off the streets. It only leads to whether Roger Clemens was truthful or not.”

Weiner, part of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that grilled the commissioners of the four major pro sports a week ago, said .Congress has done all it can do about steroids in pro sports.

“We’re not legislating here,” he said. “We’re delving into an interesting topic for the .public. At the end of the day, .steroids is a PR issue for pro sports.”

Weiner said he’s among the many who think that .Clemens lied to Congress, which prompted the committee to recommend an FBI investigation to .determine whether Clemens committed perjury, a felony.

But, he added, “I do believe that public embarrassment is a sanction. The real consequences are a loss of revenue from endorsements and a loss of respect in the eyes of the fans. It may be that Roger Clemens’ entry into the Hall of Fame is in question. It may be that future employers won’t have an interest in his services.”

As Weiner views the role of the federal government, that should be enough.

“The question is not whether someone who may have committed a crime is walking away scot-free,” he said. “It’s about whether someone who’s committed a crime is walking away because the frankly limited federal .resources aren’t being properly allocated.”

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