WASHINGTON - Cy Young award-winning pitcher Roger Clemens and his former personal trainer testified Wednesday before a House committee, as Congress' investigation into the use of steroids in Major League Baseball continues.
They're separated by just one seat, at a table in front of a House panel, but the testimony from Roger Clemens and his former trainer Brian McNamee is miles apart.
Both were grilled Wednesday by lawmakers trying to establish which one is telling the truth, concerning whether Clemens used performance-enhancing drugs.
Clemens was asked to explain statements from his long-time friend and teammate, Andy Pettitte, who said Clemens had admitted to him that he had used human growth hormone. Clemens said Pettitte had simply "misremembered" their conversation.
Clemens told the panel that he had "never taken steroids or HGH." And he said no matter what happens before the panel Wednesday, he will never have his reputation restored.
As for McNamee, he was asked why he had for years held onto what he says is proof that he injected Clemens with drugs. He responded that despite his long relationship with Clemens, he hadn't completely trusted the pitcher. One lawmaker pointed to what he said was "lie after lie after lie" from McNamee.
Clemens was named as a steroids user in the Mitchell Report, the document stemming from the investigation led by former Sen. George Mitchell for Major League Baseball. Clemens has vehemently denied ever using steroids and said he repeated that statement under oath during a five-hour deposition last week.
He has also sued his former personal trainer Brian McNamee, who testified for seven hours for congressional investigators in preparation for Wednesday's hearing.
McNamee, however, has said he has given the Justice Department needles that will prove his claims that he injected Clemens with banned performance-enhancing substances.
Kirk Radomski, Chuck Knoblauch and Clemens' former teammate Andy Pettitte were originally scheduled to testify Wednesday, but the committee announced Tuesday that the trio wouldn't be called.
"Mr. Knoblauch and Mr. Pettitte answered all the committee's questions, and their testimony at the hearing is not needed," Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman of California and Republican Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia, the leaders of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said Tuesday in a written statement.
Although Clemens and McNamee are certain to draw most of the attention, an aide to Mitchell will also be testifying.
