Report on Investigation Into Rafael Palmeiro's March 17, 2005 Testimony Before the Committee on Government Reform

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46-page Committee report on whether Rafael Palmeiro committed perjury when he testified under oath on March 17, 2005 that he had 'never used steroids. Period.' On August 1, 2005, just under five months later, MLB announced Palmeiro had tested positive for stanozolol, a powerful anabolic steroid. The House Committee on Government Reform opened a formal investigation under chair Tom Davis (R-VA) and ranking member Henry Waxman (D-CA), interviewing Palmeiro, MLB officials, and witnesses. The November 10, 2005 report concludes that perjury could not be conclusively proven beyond reasonable doubt under the federal perjury statute's requirements (specific knowledge of falsity at the time of testimony), but documents extensive contradictions between Palmeiro's March 17 statements and the subsequent evidence. The report functioned as a public-record indictment without a formal charge — Palmeiro's MLB career ended within months, and his Hall of Fame candidacy collapsed despite his 3,020 hits and 569 home runs.

Background

Companion to the 2005 Steroid Hearings collection in this same folder. The Palmeiro positive test (August 1, 2005) created the political momentum that allowed Selig to renegotiate the JDA mid-cycle in November 2005 — first 50-game suspensions for a first offense, 100-game suspensions for a second, and lifetime ban for a third. The Committee's inability to prove perjury beyond reasonable doubt is a paradigmatic example of how federal investigative committees produce reputational consequences without legal consequences. Palmeiro never played in MLB again after the 2005 season.

Key provisions

  • Conclusion: 'The Committee was unable to conclude that Mr. Palmeiro perjured himself when he stated that he had never used steroids before the Committee on March 17, 2005.' (The standard required specific knowledge of falsity at time of testimony.)
  • Investigation methodology: Committee staff interviewed Palmeiro under oath; reviewed MLB testing records; subpoenaed third parties.
  • Direct policy outcomes: Strengthened the case for the November 2005 mid-cycle JDA renegotiation between MLB and MLBPA (first 50-game suspensions, etc.).

Notable provisions

I have never used steroids. Period. I do not know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never. The reference to steroids in my book *Juiced* refers to the fact that I have heard players talk about steroids.— Palmeiro testimony, March 17, 2005 (quoted in Investigation Report)

Further context

Palmeiro March 17 Testimony Investigation Report (Nov. 10, 2005)

The Davis-Waxman investigation into whether Rafael Palmeiro perjured himself five months before his positive stanozolol test. 46 pp. The Committee couldn't reach the "knowing falsity" bar for federal perjury but documented extensive contradictions. Palmeiro's career and Hall of Fame candidacy collapsed within months.

Sourced from SABR Business of Baseball Files.

Companion to the 2005 Steroid Hearings collection in this folder.

References

  1. Primary source: sabr.box.com — U.S. House Committee on Government Reform, retrieved 2026-05-18.
  2. Confirmation source: sabr.box.com — SABR Business of Baseball Files.
  3. File fingerprint: SHA256 683c1ddd87755b9ecad4244bc2b79ea02e53a645eb5604897dce0d3b2c538691.

Evidence trail

Per archive editorial standards §1.3 and §1.4, verified documents require two independent confirmation sources and an archive.org snapshot. This panel is the integrity record the archive holds for this document.

File integrity

SHA256
683c1ddd87755b9ecad4244bc2b79ea02e53a645eb5604897dce0d3b2c538691
Filename
2005-11-10_report_palmeiro-march-17-testimony-investigation.pdf
Format
PDF · 46 pp · 410 KB
Retrieved
2026-05-18 by claude/cowork-9167cb28 (uploaded by alex)
Primary URL
https://sabr.box.com/s/iey8sdxf80n4cg8xfd9z9rtejcrlrjok

Confirmation sources (1)

Publisher Retrieved URL Notes
SABR Business of Baseball Files 2026-05-18 https://sabr.box.com/s/iey8sdxf80n4cg8xfd9z9rtejcrlrjok

Most recent status change

needs_review on 2026-05-18 by claude/cowork-9167cb28.

**Phase 2 wantlist hit cleared.** Acquired via SABR Business of Baseball Files.

Source provenance