TAMPA – According to one of Andy Pettitte’s lawyers on hand for yesterday’s Legends Field press conference, Pettitte was mostly mum about Roger Clemens for three reasons, one of which is the possibility that Pettitte isn’t done with the legal system.
“The affidavit finalized it and this was a very difficult thing to do, to testify about two friends (also Brian McNamee),” attorney Thomas Farrell said. “And third, that’s all I am going to say about that because as much as we don’t want to see it there is a very good likelihood that he may be required to testify again either in a defamation lawsuit (Clemens against McNamee) or there is a grand jury proceeding in that.”
Clemens could be indicted by a grand jury on a federal perjury charge.
Pettitte said he didn’t watch last week’s congressional hearing in which Clemens said Pettitte “misremembered” a conversation Pettitte said in a sworn deposition took place about HGH use.
Pettitte praised attorney Jay Reisinger and Farrell for keeping him out of last week’s hearings, but the duo couldn’t stop Pettitte’s admission that he received HGH from his father Tom in 2004 from coming out.
“We told him that we would do everything we could to keep that private, but he was very realistic about that it was going to come out,” Farrell said.
Farrell was asked what affect would an indictment of Clemens have on Pettitte during the upcoming season and the lawyer said the glacial speed of the courts would be an aid.
“The legal system moves very slowly,” Farrell said. “If that comes about it well could be after the World Series.”
As for keeping Pettitte away from testifying with Clemens in the room and telling the world about getting HGH from his father, Farrell said it was more Congress’ call than Pettitte’s.
Pettitte said there are no more HGH ghosts in his closet. And while he didn’t say he wouldn’t be talking about the subject again, Farrell insisted yesterday was the final discussion Pettitte would have with the media.
“This is it,” Farrell said.
Reisinger, who isn’t an agent, was asked if the Hendricks brothers, who represent Clemens, are still with Pettitte.
“Alan and Randy Hendricks are his certified agents on record,” Reisinger said.