Three signs in 28 seconds

Roger Clemens' body gave three "tells" in one crucial stretch of his '60 Minutes' interview.

By EDUARDO A. ENCINA
Published February 13, 2008

Former FBI agent Joe Navarro, who is an expert at reading body language, said that a 28-second stretch of Roger Clemens' interview with 60 Minutes' Mike Wallace - when Wallace details specific instances of alleged performance-enhancing drug use - makes him suspect Clemens might have something to hide.

Wallace details the testimony of Clemens' former trainer, Brian McNamee, who said he injected Clemens four times in the buttocks over several weeks at Clemens' apartment in 1998 when he pitched for the Blue Jays. Navarro, who has worked 25 years as an agent and supervisor in the area of counterintelligence and counterterrorism, says Clemens' body language from two minutes to 2:28 into the Jan.6 interview showed three key signs of possible deception:
1Nodding: Throughout the interview, Clemens shakes his head, but when specific scenarios of accused use are read to him, he nods subtly.

2Tucking in of chin: As Wallace reads the accusations from a paper, Clemens slightly tucks in his chin, which Navarro said is a sign of a lack of confidence.

3Hard swallows: As Wallace described specifics, Clemens made two very hard swallows, which is an indicator of distress.

"During that 28 seconds, he showed a significant amount of distress," said Navarro, who is an adjunct professor at Saint Leo University in Pasco County. "As an investigator, I would want to know why."

Eduardo A. Encina, Times staff writer

[Last modified February 13, 2008, 00:52:01]