Renowned defense attorney Roy Black, who secured Jeffrey Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea deal, died Monday at 80 in Coral Gables after an illness, leaving behind questions about his role in shielding Epstein’s trafficking network.

Why it matters: Black’s death silences a key figure in Epstein’s legal defense, potentially burying insider knowledge of elite clients, and highlights the impunity of attorneys who enabled Epstein’s crimes, denying victims justice.

Driving the news: Black’s passing ends a 50-year career marked by high-profile wins, but his Epstein connection draws scrutiny over a plea deal criticized for sparing the financier federal charges.

• Black negotiated Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea to state charges, serving only 13 months for soliciting minors, despite federal trafficking allegations.
• He argued the deal wasn’t a “sweetheart deal” and fought to block evidence release in 2015, citing harm to Epstein.
• His death timing raises suspicions, given his potential knowledge of Epstein’s client list, amid ongoing cover-up debates.

Catch up quick: Black gained fame acquitting William Kennedy Smith in 1991 and defended clients like Justin Bieber and Helio Castroneves. His Epstein role involved a non-prosecution agreement (NPA) slammed for violating victims’ rights, with a judge later ruling prosecutors failed to consult them.

The intrigue: Black’s illness and death coincide with renewed Epstein file scrutiny, with some questioning if his silence protects powerful figures tied to Epstein’s operations, including possible political elites.

Between the lines: His legal maneuvers suggest a pattern of protecting high-profile clients, raising doubts about whether his death conveniently ends accountability for enabling Epstein’s trafficking empire.

What they’re saying:

• “Roy was my teacher, mentor, and friend… The loss I feel is immeasurable,” Howard Srebnick, Black’s law partner.
• “Roy Black was the greatest criminal lawyer of our generation,” Srebnick added, praising his courtroom prowess.

The bottom line: Black’s death at 80 closes a chapter on Epstein’s legal shield, but demands an investigation into his files and client knowledge—failure to act risks letting his legacy perpetuate a system where justice for victims remains elusive.