Congress withdraws Giambi subpoena
NEW YORK – Jason Giambi was excused from testifying at Thursday’s congressional hearing on steroids in baseball, and the top Democrat on the committee said it’s possible other players also could have subpoenas withdrawn.
Giambi does not have to go to Washington because of his involvement in the ongoing federal investigation into illegal steroid distribution, House Government Reform committee chairman Rep. Tom Davis and ranking Democrat Rep. Henry Waxman said Tuesday. The New York Yankees slugger testified in 2003 before a grand jury probing the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.
“I appeared in front of the federal grand jury a year ago. I answered every question, told the truth and cooperated fully,” Giambi said in a statement released by his agent. “I appreciate that the members of the committee evaluated my situation, and I will now continue to focus on playing the best baseball I possibly can for the Yankees and our great fans.”
BALCO founder Victor Conte, BALCO vice president James Valente, Barry Bonds’ trainer Greg Anderson, and track coach Remi Korchemny were indicted in the case, and trial dates have not yet been scheduled.
Bonds and Gary Sheffield, who also testified before the grand jury, were not among the seven current and former players subpoenaed by the committee last week.
In a letter sent to the committee accompanying more than 400 pages of documents Monday, baseball lawyer Stan Brand said just 12 of 1,133 tests last year were positive, and that positive tests from nandrolone dropped from 73 in 2003 to one last year.
Former A.L. MVP Jose Canseco, whose recent book accuses several stars of steroid use, also was subpoenaed along with Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Frank Thomas and Curt Schilling. Lawyers for Giambi, Palmeiro and Thomas sent the committee letters Monday asking that their clients be excused, citing Giambi’s prior testimony and the adverse effects travel would have on Thomas’ recovery from an ankle injury.
It remained unclear whether McGwire, Sosa, Palmeiro and Thomas would comply with their subpoenas.