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Roy Black, a well-known Miami defense attorney who negotiated Jeffrey Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea agreement with then-U.S. attorney Alex Acosta, passed away at the age of 80. Black had received recognition for representing a number of well-known clients throughout the course of his decades-long profession.
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Among them were pop sensation Justin Bieber and race car racer Helio Castroneves, both of whom saw success. Black had long been regarded as a titan in Miami’s legal scene, sometimes compared to legendary individuals in other fields because of his reputation for outwitting prosecutors and becoming an expert in courtroom techniques.
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One of his most well-known moments occurred in 1991 when he successfully defended William Kennedy Smith, who had been charged with assault after a night in Palm Beach, in a televised trial. Smith, who eventually sought a career in medicine and humanitarian work, was the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and other notable Democrats.
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Black’s portfolio grew much more. Charges of dangerous driving and resisting arrest were eventually dropped in the Bieber case, although being acquitted, Castroneves has been under investigation for suspected tax evasion. Black also defended conservative media personality Rush Limbaugh, a Miami police officer connected to a contentious 1989 riot-instigating episode, and those involved in college admissions bribery cases.
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Black’s death comes just as renewed scrutiny has been directed at Epstein’s network, with recent media attention highlighting sealed judicial records and redacted files possibly implicating prominent Democratic figures.
Earlier this week, former Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz, who had previously participated in Epstein’s legal defense, shared details on the ongoing secrecy surrounding Epstein’s connections. While confirming the absence of an official “client list,” it was suggested that names of influential individuals could be inferred from sealed court records and FBI interviews with alleged victims.
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Among the individuals named in historical allegations were former Democratic Senator George Mitchell, late New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. It was emphasized that while accusations had been made, the truth remained entangled in redacted documents and disputed testimonies, raising questions about transparency and the handling of the investigation by federal courts.
Richardson died in 2023, and Mitchell, who is now 91, had long since distanced himself from public life. As Epstein’s connections get more attention, so does the focus on individuals whose connections could have gone unnoticed under previous Democratic administrations.