Bud Selig has asked 73-year-old attorney George Mitchell to investigate allegations that Barry Bonds and other players used steroids (these allegations surfaced in the recent book Game of Shadows). Mitchell is a former U.S. Senator from Maine, majority leader of the Senate, and, at one time at least, had his name floated for the MLB Commissioner’s job. Another lawyer, yet to be named, is expected to serve as lead investigator.Mitchell brings years as a Washington insider and power-broker to the table, as well as experience trying to get parties with deep divisions to get along (he worked toward a settlement in Northern Ireland). Some commentary has questioned whether he is sufficiently independent from MLB and team owners to lead this probe. The probe’s mandate would seem the far more important consideration. Will it be focused on Barry Bonds? What evidentiary standard will the investigation employ before concluding that a particular player used steroids? Will Mitchell and his team have the authority to recommend sanctions, or will they report “just the facts”?
UPDATE: John Dowd, the lawyer who investigated Pete Rose for gambling, thinks Mitchell is an uninspired choice without a "great track record." On that question, Dowd may himself have a conflict of interest, since he has been mentioned as another possible choice for the steroid probe.