Clemens Sues Ex-Trainer for Defamation Over Steroid Allegations
Roger Clemens filed a defamation lawsuit last night against the trainer who says he injected the pitcher with steroids and human growth hormones.
Clemens’ lawyer, Rusty Hardin, told the Houston Chronicle the suit against trainer Brian McNamee was not filed for money. Instead, Hardin said his client wants to restore his reputation and learn how the allegations came about. The Cy Young award winner was implicated in a December report on steroid use by U.S. Sen. George Mitchell.
Federal investigators told McNamee he could go to jail for lying to a federal agent since he already had two strikes again him for possessing and delivering steroids, according to alleged statements by McNamee cited in the lawsuit. After he implicated Clemens, McNamee “magically” became a witness rather than a target in a federal drug probe, according to allegations in the suit recounted by the Chronicle.
Clemens has beat McNamee to the punch by being the first to file a defamation lawsuit, the Associated Press reports. McNamee’s lawyers had threatened to sue Clemens for defamation if he lied in a 60 Minutes interview, which was broadcast last night. Clemens’ lawsuit also asks for a declaration that he has not defamed McNamee.
