Written by
CHRISTIAN RED
April 22, 2008
IRS special agent Jeff Novitzky and two FBI agents questioned Jose Canseco at a federal building in Los Angeles for just over three hours Tuesday, part of the government's continuing perjury investigation of pitcher Roger Clemens.
According to Canseco's attorney Gregory Emerson, the interview was not contentious and Canseco came away feeling he was treated fairly.
"Things went well. Nothing came up that was a surprise," Emerson told the Daily News. "I didn't get the sense they were steering Jose in any way. Jose testified truthfully and stood by his testimony and what he wrote in his book ("Vindicated")."
Emerson said that two photographs that allegedly place Clemens at a 1998 party at Canseco's Florida home were introduced at Tuesday's meeting. The News first reported the existence of the photos in February - one that allegedly shows an 11-year-old boy who attended the party posing with Clemens in a pool and another where the same boy is pictured with Canseco.
Clemens' former trainer Brian McNamee claimed in baseball's Mitchell Report that he believes that Clemens was introduced to steroids at the '98 party - both Clemens and Canseco were Toronto teammates that year - while Canseco has signed an affidavit saying that Clemens never attended the barbeque. Clemens denied under oath that he attended the party, although his attorney later issued a statement that Clemens might have stopped by Canseco's house that day.
According to Emerson, Novitzky and federal investigators have already interviewed several people who worked or played for the Blue Jays during that '98 season, including trainers, the team travel director and players. "Nobody could recall (Clemens) being there," said Emerson, referring to the party.
Novitzky, who initiated the government's widening crackdown on doping in sports in 2003 when he raided the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, has developed a reputation for relentlessness.
A 15-year veteran of the IRS, he is transferring to the criminal investigations office of the Food and Drug Administration, a source told the Daily NewsTuesday night. Novitzky has worked closely with the FDA in many of his operations.
In his latest book "Vindicated" Canseco writes about "Max" - a steroids dealer that Canseco introduced to Alex Rodriguez in the late '90s. Last week, SI.com identified Max as Joseph Dion. Dion disputed Canseco's claims that he dealt steroids and introduced steroids to Rodriguez. Canseco wrote in his book that Dion told him A-Rod had "signed on" after Canseco introduced the two.
Dion, however, did not seem to be an integral part of Tuesday's questioning, according to Emerson. "His name came up," said Emerson. "Jose simply confirmed his account in his book. There was not a whole lot on that. It kind of surprised me." Emerson would not speculate if Rodriguez will be dragged into the investigation.
It seems there were few curveballs thrown Canseco's way. Emerson said he expects future meetings between Canseco and the feds and that he believes his client is still a witness. "At no point did I feel like, 'Jose we need to take a break.' They were very competent investigators," said Emerson. "I was impressed with Jose's testimony. He didn't hem or haw. He didn't equivocate."
