But that friendship could be tested in the coming weeks.
Clemens was pressed about sworn testimony provided by Pettitte, who said in an affidavit that the seven-time Cy Young Award winner admitted to using HGH in a conversation which occurred 10 years ago.
Rather than attacking Pettitte's testimony, Clemens danced around the issue, constantly saying that the New York Yankees lefthander "misremembered" the context of their conversation.
"Andy Pettitte is my friend," Clemens said. "He was my friend before this. He will be my friend after this. I think Andy has misheard - I think he misremembers our conversation."
If Congress elects to pursue perjury charges against Clemens, however, Pettitte's comments could be used as damaging evidence against the star pitcher.
Pettitte was initially scheduled to take part in Wednesday's hearing but was excused on Monday night, along with Chuck Knoblauch and convicted steroids pusher Kirk Radomski, a former clubhouse attendant with the New York Mets.
One of Clemens' lawyers, Lanny Breuer, questioned Pettitte's absence from the hearing.
"He's not here, and I'd like to know why he's not here," Breuer said. "But people make mistakes. People forget."
Wednesday's hearing involved only Clemens and his chief accuser, Brian McNamee, who claims that he injected the star pitcher with performance-enhancing drugs.
Pettitte, who spent the last nine seasons as a teammate of Clemens with the Yankees and Houston Astros, also was named in the Mitchell Report by McNamee, who said he injected the two-time All-Star with HGH on two occasions. Pettitte later admitted that he had used HGH twice while injured in 2002.
Pettitte also issued a statement hours prior to Wednesday's hearing, admitting that he also used HGH in 2004. The lefthander spoke to committee lawyers under oath last week, providing a sworn deposition that coincided with many of McNamee's claims.
Chairman Henry Waxman read part of Pettitte's deposition during his opening statement.
Quoting Pettitte, Waxman read, "In 2005, around the time of the congressional hearings into the use of performance enhancing drugs in baseball, I had a conversation with Roger Clemens in Kissimmee, Florida.
"I asked him what he would say if asked by reporters if he ever used performance-enhancing drugs. When he asked what I meant, I reminded him that he had told me that he had used HGH."
Clemens, however, said during Wednesday's testimony that he does not recall such a conversation evert taking place.
"I don't believe I had a conversation in 2005 with him in Kissimmee, Florida because we would have been with the Houston Astros at the time," Clemens said. "I don't remember that conversation."
Rusty Hardin, Clemens' other attorney, also questioned Pettitte's comments.
"Andy remembers one thing," Hardin said. "Roger believes another thing."
Source :
www.sbrforum.com
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