Jose Canseco's new book 'Vindicated' comes out on April 1. The bash rbo starts a book tour about then. And he must squeeze in an appointment with the IRS -- say what the IRS?
Yes, as mentioned earlier, Jose Canseco promised the IRS a date to discuss his buddy Roger Clemens, and the infamous party, or no-party in Florida. The NY Post carries the tale today:
With less than two weeks to go before Jose Canseco's "Vindicated" hits bookstores, the book's publisher, Simon and Schuster, has the former Bash Brother slated for a lavish publicity tour.
Canseco, whose 2005 steroid tell-all "Juiced" rocked the baseball world, is scheduled to appear on ABC's "Nightline" on March 28, on Howard Stern's Sirius Satellite Radio show on March 31 and do book signings in New York, Boston, Chicago, San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
But while Canseco is in the Bay Area on April 9 and 10, his visit may take an abrupt detour: The former slugger and admitted steroid user is expected to have a face-to-face meeting with IRS special agent Jeff Novitzky, the government's lead steroid investigator who is now focusing his efforts on whether pitcher Roger Clemens perjured himself before Congress
Sounds like fun? Maybe not when you're meeting with IRS/BALCO agent Jeff Novitzky. Novitzky (thanks to his to "Game of Shadows" reputation) might be the hardest-nosed steroids investigator in the country.
Canseco's lawyer makes the meeting seem like good ole boys getting together for a couple Cokes:
Saunooke (Canseco's attorney) said that while his client is happy to cooperate with the government, "we're not under subpoena. I'm not going to get in a plane, nor is Jose, at our expense, to go flying out on whatever wild goose chase they want to go on.
"We're happy to help, but we're not going to go out of our way to find them. They know where we are. We can cooperate, we always have. It just happens that we'll be in San Francisco, and if that works well, that works well."
Novitzky is not a fun type guy. He tends to get serious. (more after the jump)
The Post lays out the reasons the IRS agent is interested in Canseco:
Novitzky's interest in Canseco was piqued when Canseco signed a sworn affidavit in January saying that Clemens never attended a 1998 party at his Florida home when he and Clemens played for the Toronto Blue Jays. The party became a contentious topic during last month's congressional hearing on steroid use in baseball and the Mitchell Report that detailed alleged use by Clemens. Brian McNamee, Clemens' former trainer, said in sworn testimony that he believed Clemens discussed steroids with Canseco at the party. Clemens has denied he attended the event, and Canseco corroborated the Rocket's version with his affidavit to Congress on Jan. 22. Clemens' attorney, Rusty Hardin, backtracked slightly last month, issuing a statement that in part read, "Roger was playing golf at the time of the party, and has stated that he may have stopped by the Canseco house after playing golf before heading to the ballpark for the game."
Canseco's affidavit to Congress was more defiant.
"I specifically recall that Clemens did not come to the bar-b-que," Canseco said. "I remember this because I was disappointed that he did not attend. I later learned that he had a golfing commitment that day and could not attend the party." Canseco also slammed McNamee in the affidavit, saying his claim of the Rocket attending the party "is absolutely false."
Thus, Novitzky becomes interested in perjury, and likely money-laundering...steroids purchases. Stay tuned, this could get more interesting...
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