The New York Daily News’ Nathaniel Vinton and Michael O’Keefe — indirectly savaged recently by the Post’s Mike Vaccaro for presiding over what he thinks to be a non-story — report today the US District Court judge in the Roger Clemens perjury case takes a dim view of the Rocket’s relatives taking to the net to trash the trial’s prosecution witnesses.
Judge Reggie Walton said he was especially bothered to read that Clemens’ sister, Janet Johnson – who has been posting her thoughts at twitter.com/babymommis – had claimed (incorrectly) that Andy Pettitte’s father, Tom had been proven to have used steroids. (Pettitte purchased human growth hormone from a Texas gym owner, as the News first reported in 2008, in an attempt to help his heart condition, and passed it along to his injured son.)
On Thursday, July 7, Johnson’s Tweet read: “@ClemensVerdict ask the ? Why was Tom Pettitte ripped and assoc. With inlaws gym busted for steroids. Y did he have 9 stints in heart at young age, Y did Pettitte beg in his depo to keep Dad out of congress. #readpettittedepo”
As jury selection commenced last week, Clemens’ niece, Kirbie Johnson, attacked McNamee on her blog and one of Clemens’ sons, Kacy Clemens, tweeted that the family was ready for “battle.”
Clemens’ attorney, Rusty Hardin appeared stunned late Monday after a Daily News reporter asked if knew that Clemens’ relatives were using social media to attack potential witnesses in the Rocket’s long-awaited trial. Hardin said he was not aware of the postings. Late Monday night or Tuesday morning, Johnson removed at least one Twitter posting in which she accused a reporter of “re-spouting lies.”