In an interview with NY Times columnist Selena Roberts, known for harsh articles against Lance, she was quoted as saying it was a case about fraud against the federal government, not about doping and that it was always going to be a difficult case.
“…it’s not easy for the feds to take on Lance Armstrong because he’s a very powerful force. He has many resources and he’s a hero to a lot of people. It was a complicated legal case but it was also a very complicated PR case.”
“I think it was more about this perfect storm, what does the evidence mean and what does going after Lance Armstrong mean. It’s very difficult because Lance does symbolize to many people the hope that they’ll be survivors too. So it’s not easy, especially in the political backdrop of the election and what things mean here in the US.”
The USADA has announced they are continuing with their own investigation. That may or may not be just to save face. The UCI is happy it’s over and wants to move on.
AFP has reported that the government made a cost benefit analysis and decided against continuing. The resources they had available were too meager. Armstrong is so popular in the US because of his cancer work.
There were so many leaks to the press during the two years that Armstrong’s lawyers asked the court to force investigators to disclose their contacts with journalists. The testimonies of Hamilton and Landis don’t carry enough weight because they’ve both lied so much. The grand jury never talked with Armstrong and no indictments were ever issued. Testimonies were behind closed doors and the information is confidential and may or may not be able to be shared.
It’s unknown what exact charges were being pursued by investigators. It’s assumed that government money going indirectly to doping via funding the Postal team was not going to be able to be proved.
Armstrong said “I am gratified to learn that the U.S. Attorney’s office is closing its investigation. It is the right decision and I commend them for reaching it. I look forward to continuing my life as a father, a competitor, and an advocate in the fight against cancer without this distraction.”
Longtime Armstrong detractor — and wife of former Motorola/U.S. Postal rider Frankie Andreu — Betsy Andreu was disappointed by the decision. “Our legal system failed us,” she told the Associated Press. “This is what happens when you have a lot of money and you can buy attorneys who have people in high places in the Department of Justice.”
