Roethlisberger investigation now in the hands of district attorney Fred Bright

Ben Roethlisberger’s availability for the 2010 season is now in the hands of district attorney Fred Bright.

According to the Associated Press, authorities in Georgia have finished their investigation into a 20-year-old college student’s claim that Pittsburgh Steelers star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her at a nightclub.

Milledgeville police chief Woodrow Blue released a statement this afternoon that his department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation handed the investigation report and witness statements to local district attorney Fred Bright on Tuesday evening.

Charges against Roethlisberger could result in the two-time Super Bowl winner never playing another down for the Steelers.

Roethlisberger has a morale clause in his contract that the Steelers would be able to void, if the team decided to part ways with Roethlisberger.

The team has yet to come out in support of their star quarterback.

The case against Roethlisberger is not believed to be strong when it comes to key evidence such as DNA evidence. Indications from a few sources who have been investigating the case is that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation lacks key evidence that Roethlisberger sexually assaulted the young woman and a lot of the situation is believed to just center around hearsay from witnesses and the hospital report.

However, that doesn’t mean Roethlisberger is out of the woods. The district attorney may have enough evidence to move forward and press charges even without having Roethlisberger’s DNA.

When it comes to prosecuting a high profile individual, politics coming into play can never be ruled out. In the Duke larcrosse scandal for example, politics was believed to be at the forefront in the decision to press charges. The district attorney who handled the case was up for re-election in one year.

For the Steelers it is an un-easy time at team headquarters.