Jose Canseco’s long-awaited meeting with federal agents took place today with no surprises, according to Canseco’s lawyer.
Gregory Emerson, Canseco’s new counsel, said the former slugger turned steroid whistleblower answered the questions of three federal agents for a little more than three hours in Los Angeles.
“Jose was asked a number of questions,” Emerson said. “I don’t want to get into specifics but there were no surprises. I think he answered everything truthfully and I feel good about it.”
Jeff Novitzky, the lead agent in the BALCO case, was one of Canseco’s questioners. The trio grilled Canseco on things that appeared in his two books about steroid use and things he’s said in interviews.
The agents also wanted to know about Canseco’s sworn affidavit to a congressional committee that he had no knowledge of Roger Clemens using performance-enhancing drugs.
Both Clemens and Miguel Tejada are under federal investigation for lying to members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Canseco played with both men and has written he suspected both of using steroids, although he’s backed off that statement when it comes to Clemens.
Though Emerson would not detail what questions were asked, he said they were the ones you’d expect, which means Canseco likely was asked about Alex Rodriguez and his relationship with trainer Joseph Dion, the man identified as “Max” in Canseco’s latest book, “Vindicated.”
“They were pretty standard questions,” Emerson said. “I had written down a number of questions thinking what they might ask and it was pretty much the same. It’s not rocket science figuring out what they want to know.”
It’s a safe bet that much of the interview centered on Clemens. A party at Canseco’s Miami home became a focal point of the congressional hearing in February. Canseco said Clemens was not there in his affidavit and photos later surfaced that seemed to place Clemens at Canseco’s home.
The agents did not set up a follow-up interview with Canseco, but Emerson said he would not be shocked if they want to speak with his client again.