The affidavit of New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte helps to support the account of Brian McNamee, Roger Clemens’ former trainer, that he gave Clemens injections of banned drugs, according to a ranking member of the congressional committee investigating the use of illegal drugs in baseball.
Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., said Monday that in an affidavit given to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Pettitte’s account matches McNamee’s in most details, but that in a separate affidavit to the committee, Clemens said both are mistaken.
According to sources, McNamee has told investigators that in the winter of 2002, he, Clemens and Pettitte were working out together at the gym in Clemens’ Houston home. The sources said McNamee claims that during a break in the workout, Pettitte went over to McNamee by himself and asked: “How come you don’t give me the stuff you give Roger?” McNamee supposedly replied, “Because it’s illegal.” Pettitte admitted McNamee eventually gave him shots of human growth hormone, according to the Mitchell report.
Clemens, in his affidavit, said Pettitte is mistaken in thinking that in their conversations about medications, he was referring to steroids or HGH. McNamee has said he gave Clemens at least 16 injections of steroids or HGH.
Davis said Pettitte is reluctant to testify in public about his dealings with McNamee and his longtime idol Clemens, which is understandable, Davis said.
“We know what (Pettitte) is going to say,” Davis said, adding Clemens will be confronted with Pettitte’s statement when he testifies and given a chance to respond to it at a House hearing Wednesday.
Pettitte, former Clemens teammate Chuck Knoblauch and convicted steroids distributor Kirk Radomski were taken off the witness list for the public session.
According to Davis, Clemens does not attack Pettitte in his deposition, saying his memory is different and that memories can fade.
“I don’t think it makes any difference” whether Pettitte is there, Davis said. Davis said the chairman of the committee, Henry Waxman, D-Calif., also thinks allowing Pettitte to be present only by affidavit is reasonable, and “I’m with the chairman.”
