EDNY COURTHOUSE, Nov 3 – The baseball
bribery trial of suspended Cleveland Guardians pitchers
Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, along with bettor Robinson
Vasquez Germosen completed jury selection after two full
days on November 3. Then after a long whispered
sidebar, Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto ruled that the defense
CAN say, in opening statements on November 4, that "Pena
is a cooperator." The prosecution opposed it and said they
will continue to object.
Inner City Press, covering the case toward a book, live tweeted jury selection and pushed, twice more, to get the promised overflow courtroom open, mentioning to the judge herself as she ate a yoghurt in the hall during a break. We're looking into that, she said. Later, the overflow court room not only didn't have a video feed: it was locked again. Inner City Press was told only "in-house" media as definited by the EDNY Disrict Executive's Office could be in the courtroom at one point. Then the overflow room must be and remain open throughout the trial. Here's from jury selection:
Judge Matsumoto:
So I'd like each of you to answer the questions
Number 1 (male) - I've lived in Suffolk County for 17
years, I'm not 34. I rent a home. I did high school. I
am a truck driver for a paper shredding company, my wife
and I have 4 kids: 12, 9, 7 and 5
Number 2 (woman) I've lived in
Staten Island for 41 years, I own my home. I have a
masters in child education. My husband is a para in high
school
Number 3, Ms. "Fager," I live in Queens, for six years,
I rent. I did 3 years of college. I am an Amazon
Associate
Number 4 (man) I live in
Jamaica, NY, with my family. I went to Queens College
for urban studies. I work in Food Emporium, for six
years. Not married, no kids.
Number 5 (man) North Hempstead for 60 years, SUNY
Buffalo. I inspect for asbestos and read Newsday
Number 6: I live in Brooklyn
for 15 years, I have post graduate education and work in
a clinic
Judge Matsumoto: What kind?
6: Sexual / reproductive health.
Judge: Great. Number 7?
7 (woman) I live in Flushing, I have a J.D. and work for
a judge in Manhattan
Number 8: I live in Sunnyside
slash Corona Queens for 30 years. I rent. I'm a data
analyst for NYC Health and Hospitals. I watch TV tennis
Number 9: I've lived near here in DUMBO since 2020. I
work for a hedge fund. My fiancee is at Sloan Kettering.
We have 5 y-o
Number 10 (man) Long Island,
marketing agency, I supervise one person and have a 5
and 10 year old
Number 11: Port Washington, back with my family after
Hofstra. I do lease agreements for a building.
Number 12: Crown Heights for 20 years after Lower East
Side.
Number 13 (woman) I live in
Brownsville, Brooklyn for 20 years. I rent. I work for
DOT. I have 5 kids, one of them works, in hotel.
Number 14: I live in Brooklyn, I am a postal carrier.
Number 15: Crown Heights, litigation
Number 16: I manage 8 in a Smoothie Shop
Number 17: Far Rockaway, I have
a degree in polysci from Adelphi, I am an insurance
agent for State Farm. My husband is a mechanic. We have
no kids.
Number 18: I live in Brooklyn and manage a commercial
retail property. My husband is a vet and served, tweens
November 3
extra on X for Subscribers here and on Substack here
This as the 2d Circuit ruled late on Nov 3:
"USCA ORDER: It is hereby ORDERED that the motion for a
stay of the district court proceedings and the petition
for the writ of mandamus be submitted for merits
determination by November 17, 2026, or the first available
panel thereafter. The October 30, 2026 denial of
Petitioners motion for an administrative stay of the
district court proceedings remains in effect. Certified
Copy Issued: 11/3/2026. USCA# 26-2965. (VJ)"
It's on....
