Appellate Panel Reject’s Olympic Cyclist’s Literal Truth Perjury Defense – 18 U.S.C. Section 1621

In 2008, former Olympic cyclist Tammy Thomas was convicted of perjury in the first BALCO case to go to trial. Thomas was found guilty of perjury for lying to a grand jury when she was asked about her steroid use.

On appeal, Thomas argued that she gave the literal truth in answering the prosecution’s question regarding her use of steroids. The prosecutor asked Thomas, “Have you ever taken anabolic steroids?” Thomas replied, “No.” Thomas’ own doctor testified that she took so many drugs containing male testosterone that she grew a beard and her voice changed. Her lawyer argued that it was the “literal truth” because Thomas took drugs called THG and norbolethone. Those substances were not listed under the definition of anabolic steroids in the relevant 2003 federal anti-drug statute, but Congress amended the law in 2004 to include them.

Thomas’ defense was based on the U.S. Supreme Court’s holding in Bronston v. U.S., 409 U.S. 352 (1973, which interpreted perjury law to exclude convictions of person who make misleading statements under oath that are technically accurate, because it is the prosecutor’s duty to ferret out such dissembling.

The three-judge panel rejected Thomas’ claims and affirmed her conviction. The judges found the “literal truth” claims to be false based on testimony that Thomas was well aware of the fact that she was told the drugs were anabolic steroids.

Under 18 U.S.C. Section 1621, whoever (1) having taken an oath before a competent tribunal, officer, or person, in any case in which a law of the United States authorizes an oath to be administered, that he will testify, declare, depose, or certify truly, or that any written testimony, declaration, deposition, or certificate by him subscribed, is true, willfully and contrary to such oath states or subscribes any material matter which he does not believe to be true; or (2) in any declaration, certificate, verification, or statement under penalty of perjury as permitted under section 1746 of title 28, United States Code, willfully subscribes as true any material matter which he does not believe to be true; is guilty of perjury and shall, except as otherwise expressly provided by law, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. This section is applicable whether the statement or subscription is made within or without the United States.

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