Latest news with #WilliamKennedySmith
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
JFK Jr. feared his own family would tell the world he was gay: New Kennedy clan cruelty exposed
John F. Kennedy Jr. feared his own family would tell the world he was secretly gay if he refused to publicly support a cousin charged with rape. The 'outing' threat – which was entirely baseless and has been described by sources as 'blackmail' – was allegedly issued by Senator Ted Kennedy to pressure his nephew into publicly supporting the family's claims that William Kennedy Smith, then 31 and the son of Teddy and JFK's sister Jean Kennedy Smith, was innocent of the charge.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
JFK Jr feared his own family would tell the world he was gay: New Kennedy clan cruelty exposed
John F Kennedy Jr feared his own family would tell the world he was secretly gay if he refused to publicly support a cousin charged with rape. The 'outing' threat – which was entirely baseless and has been described by sources as 'blackmail' – was allegedly issued by Senator Ted Kennedy to pressure his nephew into publicly supporting the family's claims that William Kennedy Smith, then 31, the son of Teddy jfk jand JFK's sister Jean Kennedy Smith, was innocent of the charge.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jeffrey Epstein's former lawyer Roy Black dies after illness at age 80
Roy Black, the prominent criminal defense attorney who helped secure Jeffrey Epstein's 2008 plea deal, has died at the age of 80, his family confirmed. Black passed away at his home in Coral Gables, Florida, on Monday after battling an illness, his wife Lea Black told People magazine. 'Thank you for all your blessings,' the Real Housewives of Miami alum wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. 'We will be announcing details for a tribute and celebration in a few weeks.' Black first gained national attention in 1991 when he secured an acquittal for former President John F. Kennedy's nephew, William Kennedy Smith, in a high-profile rape trial – a watershed moment for criminal defense, as the proceedings were broadcast live on national television. The attorney went on to play a central role in Epstein's legal defense as the financier was investigated in 2006 for multiple sex crimes involving dozens of underage girls. Rather than face federal indictment, Black and Epstein's lawyers negotiated a non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors in 2007, which was finalized in 2008. Under the deal, Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges of soliciting prostitution and soliciting prostitution with a minor and received a 13-month jail sentence and was registered as a sex offender. Black had represented a string of high-profile clients ranging from pop star Justin Bieber to race car driver Helio Castroneves. Most of the time, he was on the winning side, as noted by the Associated Press in their reporting. His clientele and courtroom success made him a regular on the Today Show and Larry King Live. Prominent attorneys and Black's former colleagues have praised him for his exceptional legal skill and courtroom expertise. 'Roy Black was the greatest criminal lawyer of our generation, perhaps in American history, achieving acquittals over a span of 50 years in some of the most challenging and notorious cases of all time,' partner of three decades at Black Srebnick, Howard Srebnick, told the Miami Herald. Srebnick's colleague David O. Markus said that Black was the 'GOAT' – greatest of all time – among Miami's criminal attorneys. 'This one really hurts,' he wrote on his Southern District of Florida blog. 'He was 80. And he really was the GOAT of criminal defense lawyers. There are so many of us that want to be Roy in the courtroom – commanding, persuasive, funny. ' Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Jeffrey Epstein's former lawyer Roy Black dies after illness at age 80
Roy Black, the prominent criminal defense attorney who helped secure Jeffrey Epstein's 2008 plea deal, has died at the age of 80, his family confirmed. Black passed away at his home in Coral Gables, Florida, on Monday after battling an illness, his wife Lea Black told People magazine. 'Thank you for all your blessings,' the Real Housewives of Miami alum wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. 'We will be announcing details for a tribute and celebration in a few weeks.' Black first gained national attention in 1991 when he secured an acquittal for former President John F. Kennedy's nephew, William Kennedy Smith, in a high-profile rape trial – a watershed moment for criminal defense, as the proceedings were broadcast live on national television. The attorney went on to play a central role in Epstein's legal defense as the financier was investigated in 2006 for multiple sex crimes involving dozens of underage girls. Rather than face federal indictment, Black and Epstein's lawyers negotiated a non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors in 2007, which was finalized in 2008. Under the deal, Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges of soliciting prostitution and soliciting prostitution with a minor and received a 13-month jail sentence and was registered as a sex offender. Black had represented a string of high-profile clients ranging from pop star Justin Bieber to race car driver Helio Castroneves. Most of the time, he was on the winning side, as noted by the Associated Press in their reporting. His clientele and courtroom success made him a regular on the Today Show and Larry King Live. Prominent attorneys and Black's former colleagues have praised him for his exceptional legal skill and courtroom expertise. 'Roy Black was the greatest criminal lawyer of our generation, perhaps in American history, achieving acquittals over a span of 50 years in some of the most challenging and notorious cases of all time,' partner of three decades at Black Srebnick, Howard Srebnick, told the Miami Herald. Srebnick's colleague David O. Markus said that Black was the 'GOAT' – greatest of all time – among Miami's criminal attorneys. 'This one really hurts,' he wrote on his Southern District of Florida blog. 'He was 80. And he really was the GOAT of criminal defense lawyers. There are so many of us that want to be Roy in the courtroom – commanding, persuasive, funny. '
Fox News
23-07-2025
- Fox News
Roy Black, famed defense attorney for Rush Limbaugh and Jeffrey Epstein, dies after illustrious career
Roy Black, a prominent Miami defense lawyer whose clients included Jeffrey Epstein and William Kennedy Smith has died at the age of 80, his law partner said Tuesday. The Miami Herald reported that Black, a father of two, died on Monday at his home in Coral Gables. "For more than 30 years, Roy was my teacher, mentor and friend," said his law partner, Howard Srebnick, in an email to The Associated Press. "The loss(es) I feel personally and professionally are immeasurable." Black represented, and won, a slew of high-profile clients, including Justin Bieber and race car driver Helio Castroneves. In Miami, Black was viewed in legal circles as the GOAT, the greatest of all time, said fellow defense attorney David O. Markus, who compared his late colleague to NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. "He worked harder than any lawyer I know. And he outlawyered every prosecutor who he ever went up against. I will miss him. His impact on criminal defense is beyond measure," Markus said in an email to the news outlet. Smith's 1991 trial drew national attention and was televised after he was charged with assaulting a woman in Palm Beach after a night of drinking. He was acquitted of the charges against him. Smith, now a physician involved in an organization dedicated to banning land mines, is the nephew of former president John F. Kennedy, former Attorney General and U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and former Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. In the Bieber case, the pop star was accused of driving a Lamborghini under the influence and drag racing. He later pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor careless driving and resisting arrest. Castroneves, a winner of the Indianapolis 500, was acquitted of charges that he tried to evade more than $2 million in taxes. Other clients Black represented included deceased conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh; Amid Khoury, who was found not guilty of bribing a Georgetown University tennis coach to get his daughter admitted to the school and Miami police officer William Lozano, who was acquitted in the shooting death of Black motorcyclist Clement Lloyd. The acquittal later sparked riots in Miami in 1989.
