WASHINGTON — A federal judge admonished Roger Clemens and his chief accuser on Monday for coming "precariously close" to violating a gag order by speaking out about the baseball star's upcoming trial on steroid allegations.
Walton said despite his warning last August that parties in the case not make public statements that could prejudice jurors, Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, gave interviews about the case last week.
Walton said that while he didn't find the interviews to be a clear violation of his order, "these statements cannot go unaddressed out of concern that the public discussion of this case by these individuals will escalate even further."
"Simply put, this court will neither permit this case to be tried in the media nor countenance any conduct that might taint potential jurors," Walton wrote.
Walton ordered all parties in the case to review his gag order and warned that those who violate it will be held in contempt with possible fines and jail time.
McNamee told Boston's WEEI radio Monday that he's not a "rat" for telling investigators that he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone.
"I got caught up in a situation, and I did what was right," McNamee said.
Two days later, Clemens told ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning that he's eager to defend himself and refuses to hang his head.
"We've had to take it on the chin a little bit, but we'll have our chance to talk," the former pitcher said.
Clemens also seemed to criticize the government's investigation into whether he used performance-enhancing drugs.
"The thing that's most upsetting is the people who were hurt on the fringe," said Clemens. "I told them to go out there and investigate whoever they've got to investigate, and they've ruined some people's businesses."
He also revealed that he no longer talks to Andy Pettitte, his former teammate and friend who is expected to testify against him.
Clemens and Pettitte were accused of using performance-enhancing drugs in an investigative report for Major League Baseball that came out in December 2007. Clemens has steadfastly denied the allegations, but Pettitte admitted he used human growth hormone and said Clemens told him he did as well.
Clemens is charged with lying before a congressional hearing on the league's report. His trial is scheduled for July.