Brian McNamee Testifies That He Saved Medical Waste After Injecting Clemens
WASHINGTON (WFAN/AP) — Brian McNamee testified Tuesday that he saved medical waste after injecting Roger Clemens with steroids because his wife complained that McNamee was going to be the fall guy.
McNamee said his wife, Eileen, told him, "You're going to go down! You're going to go down! You're going to go down!"
McNamee, Clemens' former strength coach, has said he injected the seven-time Cy Young Award winner multiple times with steroids and human growth hormone. He said he had told his wife about the injections.
He said he wanted to do something that would make his wife stop giving him a "hard time every single day," so he took a swab and cotton ball from a Clemens' steroid injection in 2001, put it in a beer can and brought it home.
He said when he showed it to his wife, she said, "all right."
The waste collected by McNamee is the physical evidence prosecutors are using against Clemens in his perjury trial. Clemens is accused of lying to Congress in 2008 when he denied using steroids or HGH.
McNamee said he stored the material in a FedEx box, first in a closet in his basement and then in a closet in his master bedroom. He said he didn't have any plans to use the material in any way.
In his 2008 congressional deposition, McNamee said he kept the materials because he distrusted Clemens "to a degree."
McNamee, who testified Monday that he injected Clemens with steroids eight to 10 times when they were with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998, said Tuesday that he injected him on multiples occasions when the two men were reunited with the New York Yankees in 2000 and 2001.
According to McNamee, Clemens told him in 2000, "I'm ready to start up again. You have a guy, right?" McNamee turned to Kurt Radomski, who touted human growth hormone as the "latest and greatest," and McNamee went back to check with Clemens.
"He said, 'Sure, get it,'" McNamee said.
McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids that season "no less than six, no more than eight or 10 times," and HGH 10 to 20 times.
The strength coach also recounted injecting Clemens' wife, Debbie, with HGH, at her request in 2003. McNamee said that Clemens was present for the injection, while Clemens has said he was not. One of the false charges Clemens is alleged to have made to Congress is that McNamee injected his wife without Clemens' prior knowledge or approval.
According to McNamee, Debbie looked at her husband and said, "I can't believe you're going to let him do this to me," and Clemens responded, "He injects me, why can't he inject you?"
McNamee said he felt "creepy," because it was his friend's wife. He said he would never have injected her without Clemens being present.
On Monday, McNamee described for jurors a relationship with Roger Clemens that had the hallmarks of an illicit affair — except their secret was steroids.
"Roger would ask me, 'What are you doing? Are you available tonight?' I knew exactly what he was talking about," McNamee said.
Clemens was pitching for the Blue Jays, and McNamee was the team's strength and conditioning coach. According to McNamee, the two men went to Clemens' apartment in the Jays' SkyDome stadium in 1998.
"Roger pulled down his pants, exposing his right buttocks cheek to me," McNamee said. A few seconds later, Clemens said he was ready. McNamee said he then "plunged the fluid in, into his buttocks."
"That," McNamee said, "was the first time I injected Roger Clemens."
McNamee said he didn't feel good about the moment, but he got the sense that Clemens "wasn't good at doing the 'booty shot.'"
That year was the beginning of a decade-long relationship that soured when McNamee, facing legal trouble, told investigators he had injected the seven-time Cy Young Award winner with steroids and HGH.
Before McNamee returned to the stand Tuesday morning, U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton dismissed a second juror for sleeping through part of the proceedings. The juror, a woman who works as a supermarket cashier, said during jury selection that she had never heard of Clemens, and that, "If he did indulge, I believe he should be penalized."
Her departure leaves 14 jurors, including two alternates. The case started with 16 jurors, including four alternates. A young man was dismissed from the jury last week for falling asleep.
These proceedings just keep getting uglier and uglier. What do you make of it all? Offer your thoughts and comments below...
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