Barry Bonds’ attorney yesterday shot down a report by The Associated Press that had quoted her saying the Giants slugger’s legal team was preparing for him to be indicted this week.
“We do not anticipate an indictment,” said Laura Enos, Bonds’ personal attorney.
“In fact, we have some information to indicate there will be no indictment.
The AP article was inaccurate.” Enos said she was shocked to see the AP story and said she had talked to the reporter, but mostly about Steve Hoskins, a childhood friend of Bonds and former business partner who is believed to be one of the key witnesses against Bonds. A grand jury has been meeting for at least four months. It is believed it is investigating Bonds for perjury and tax evasion. Enos said Bonds’ attorneys have no concerns over their client’s tax records, and he has paid the government in full.
“We are very confident in the defense,” she said.
“We have been tracking down facts for some time.” The grand jury investigating Bonds is expected to expire by the end of this month, possibly as early as this week. Enos described the federal government’s interest in Bonds as a vendetta led by IRS agent Jeff Novitzky, the lead agent in the BALCO case and the man who raided Diamondbacks pitcher Jason Grimsley’s house in April.
Enos said that Bonds has not shown any effects from the most recent rumors of his possible indictment.
Bonds, who turns 42 on July 24, went 1-for-3 yesterday with a run scored in the Giants’ 14-6 loss to the Phillies. He is batting .247 this season with 12 home runs. He is second on the career home run list with 720, trailing Hank Aaron by 35.
“He is an amazing man, given all the pressure,” Enos said of Bonds.
The grand jury is looking into whether Bonds lied to the BALCO grand jury in December 2003 when he testified, according to leaked testimony that appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, he never knowingly used steroids.
The grand jury also is believed to be investigating whether Bonds provided Kimberly Bell, his ex-girlfriend, with cash for a house from money he received from selling memorabilia and autograph shows – income not reported to the IRS.
If Bonds is indicted, Major League Baseball will be in a difficult position. If Bud Selig tries to suspend Bonds before a trial, the Players Association will surely fight the commissioner.
