The death of legendary criminal defense lawyer Roy Black, who helped secure a controversial plea agreement for Jeffrey Epstein two decades ago, sent conspiracy theorists in a fresh spiral or outrage.
The 80-year-old trial attorney and longtime University of Miami law professor represented numerous high-profile clients over the years, including William Kennedy Smith, Rush Limbaugh, Helio Castroneves, Kelsey Grammer, Fred De la Mata, BuzzFeed, and Rolls-Royce, reported WPLG-TV.
“He really was the GOAT of criminal defense lawyers,” wrote David Oscar Markus in his The Southern District of Florida blog. “The most determined. And always so positive about winning.”
The father of two died from an illness Monday at his home in Coral Gables — but many social media users questioned the timing of his death as President Donald Trump tries to ride out an ongoing scandal over his ties to Epstein and his Department of Justice's handling of the matter.
"I know, Roy Black was 80, but are they still checking for any signs of foul play?" asked the widely followed X account The Astute Galoot.
"Nothing suspicious. Virginia Giuffre, Roy Black, Epstein," posted X user Katelyn Keanon, adding a raised-eyebrow emoji. "All died under Trump!"
"Epstein's Attorney Roy Black was found dead today," said X user XFarmGirl, along with an AI-generated image of Hillary Clinton outside Black's office.
"Roy Black, the famed attorney who once represented Jeffrey Epstein, has died at home in Coral Gables... just days after the DOJ reignited interest in Epstein’s network," added The War Monitor account.
"And now, Epstein's lawyer has been found dead," said the conservative Patriotic Blonde account. "But I'm sure there's nothing to see here."
Black won acquittal in 1991 for Smith, a nephew of John F. Kennedy, on rape charges and later married one of the jurors in that nationally televised case, Lea Black, who later became known as a cast member on “The Real Housewives of Miami.”
He also represented Epstein during his 2006 criminal case on charges of soliciting prostitution from underage girls, and Black helped secure his 2008 plea agreement that was challenged by two victims who said the deal violated federal law because they were never given an opportunity to object to it.