Pettitte may corroborate testimony on Clemens

WASHINGTON (AP) – So far, Roger Clemens and his former personal trainer Brian McNamee have engaged in a he-said, he-said, with no third party providing evidence to back either account.A lawyer for McNamee believes that could change next week, when New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte – Clemens’ former teammate and workout partner – speaks to a House committee.The lawyer, Earl Ward, said Tuesday night he thinks Pettitte will tell Congress he discussed human growth hormone with Clemens between the 2001 and 2002 seasons.Ward said Pettitte talked about human growth hormone with McNamee following a conversation with Clemens, who has denied McNamee’s allegations he injected the seven-time Cy Young Award winner with HGH and steroids. McNamee worked with both Clemens and Pettitte.”We’re hopeful based on Andy’s reputation that he will corroborate Brian’s statements with regard to Roger,” Ward said in a telephone interview.Clemens, McNamee and Pettitte are among five witnesses the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee invited to testify Feb. 13. The witnesses also were asked to submit to a deposition or transcribed interview before that hearing.Pettitte’s meeting with committee staff was postponed until Monday. He originally was slated to appear for a deposition or transcribed interview Wednesday, but the committee changed the date Tuesday.McNamee said in last month’s Mitchell Report on drug use in baseball that he injected Clemens at least 16 times with steroids or HGH in 1998, 2000 and 2001.