The Epstein Chronicles

Episode: Leon Black And His Response To The New York Times
Host: Bobby Capucci
Date: March 30, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Bobby Capucci takes a hard look at billionaire Leon Black's response to the New York Times exposé on his extensive financial and social ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Capucci dissects Black’s letter to Apollo Global investors, unpacks the excuses of elites caught up with Epstein, and criticizes the broader systemic failures that allowed such associations (and covering up) to occur. The episode maintains Bobby’s signature, unfiltered tone and brings pointed questions to the broader pattern of denial from society’s most powerful.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Leon Black’s Excuses & Public Response

Main Point: Leon Black, CEO of Apollo Global Management, admitted to wiring between $50 million and $75 million to Epstein but denies any wrongdoing or inappropriate conduct.
Black wrote to investors after The New York Times revealed previously unreported payments and continued association with Epstein even after his 2008 conviction.
Capucci: “That’s the excuse they’ll all use... ‘I didn’t know what he was up to...’ And that’s the tired and used excuse that these people have used ever since Epstein was arrested the first time around.” (02:28)
Bobby is skeptical of Black’s claim of ignorance: “A monkey with learning disabilities could Google and figure out that Jeffrey Epstein was a scumbag.” (06:56)

2. The Nature of Black’s Relationship with Epstein

Key Point: The sums involved are far beyond “acquaintance” level; Capucci points out how unlikely it is that Black only used Epstein for professional services like estate planning.
Bobby: "We're not talking about $5 here, folks... We're talking about 50 to 75 million dollars. That's not the kind of money you give an acquaintance." (03:45)
Host questions motive, raising the specter of more nefarious or concealed arrangements.

3. Media & Elite Amnesia

After Epstein’s 2019 death and Maxwell’s arrest, Bobby observes mass amnesia among elites: “It went from everybody wanting to take a picture with those two... to everybody not knowing who they were. It sure is one large ass case of amnesia.” (09:19)

4. The Letter to Apollo Investors (Read and Analyzed)

Bobby reads through Black’s letter dated October 12, 2020, addressing the New York Times story.
Key Themes in the Letter:
- Distancing Apollo from Epstein and claiming the relationship was strictly personal.
- Repeating the claim of ignorance about Epstein’s criminal behavior until “the end of 2018.”
- Asserting that all Epstein’s advice was vetted by top advisors.
Bobby’s Rebuttal: “If he's too stupid to use a search engine, why would I let him safeguard my money?” (07:38)
Mocking the letter’s “philanthropic advice” excuse: “Leon Black, one of the richest, most powerful men in the world, needs a nobody like Jeffrey Epstein for...estate planning, tax and philanthropic advice?” (08:34)
Bobby calls out the trading of charity donations: “You. But you have more money than God, the both of you. Why don't you just donate to those charities yourself? Why do you gotta drag Jeffrey Epstein into it?”

5. The Role of Image, Philanthropy, and Damage Control

Black claims to have donated to organizations affiliated with Epstein, and vice versa, raising skepticism about true motives and the convenience for tax write-offs and virtue signaling.
Bobby: “All about your image. All about to make sure that image is rebuilt. And let's not forget about the tax loopholes.” (13:30)

6. Legal Fallout and Investigation Promises

Black claims he intends to “fully cooperate” with U.S. Virgin Islands and other investigations.
Host’s skepticism: “He'll probably try and maneuver his way out of it... he'll probably make it a situation where, you know, oh, I'll give a written statement and they'll probably be okay with it because, you know, he's so rich.” (14:11)

7. Systemic Critique

Bobby asserts large-scale systemic complicity, suggesting the only way to fix it is “to vote out every single one of these incumbents who has been party to it.” (15:15)
Points to the financial sector’s predatory behavior and calls for holding elites accountable.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Elite Ignorance:
“That's the tired and used excuse that these people have used ever since Epstein was arrested the first time around. And guess what? Unfortunately it's been okay. People have accepted it, the legacy media has accepted it. Nobody has really challenged these people on this stuff.” (03:00)
On the Absurdity of Financial Ties:
“We're not talking about $5 here, folks...We're talking about 50 to 75 million dollars. That's not the kind of money you give an acquaintance.” (03:45)
On Black’s Claimed Unawareness:
“A monkey with learning disabilities could Google and figure out that Jeffrey Epstein was a scumbag. You mean to tell me Mr. Hotshot Leon Black, Mr. Apollo Effing Global himself has no idea what Jeffrey Epstein is?” (06:56)
On Image Management:
“All about your image. All about to make sure that image is rebuilt. And let's not forget about the tax loopholes. Let's not forget about the write offs.” (13:30)
On Systemic Solutions:
“There is only one way to fix it, and that is to vote out every single one of these incumbents who has been party to it. And then the people that we do send to Washington D.C. we have to hold them accountable and make sure that they get rid of these technicalities, that they get rid of these loopholes, and that we somehow, some way crush the two tiered justice system.” (15:15)

Important Timestamps

02:28 — Description of the typical elite excuse: “I didn’t know what he was up to...”
03:45 — The significance of the $50-75 million payments and question of motive.
06:56 — Criticism of Black’s claim to total ignorance about Epstein.
09:19 — Reflection on the “case of amnesia” that struck the elite after public exposure.
13:30 — Analysis of charitable giving as primarily about image management.
15:15 — Call for political and legal accountability as a systemic solution.

Overall Summary

Bobby Capucci’s breakdown of Leon Black’s PR-driven response to the New York Times article is unsparing and highly critical. He unmasks the recurring excuses repeated by many in Epstein’s sphere, emphasizing how mainstream media and broader society often simply let these explanations slide. The episode questions the plausibility of Black’s ignorance, the nature of his payments, and the integrity of damage control efforts now that Epstein’s crimes are undeniable public record. Bobby calls for structural change and accountability at every level, making the episode both an exposé on Black’s actions and a broader condemnation of the interconnected elite world that enabled Epstein for so long.

Transcript

A (0:00)

The Bleacher Report app is your destination for sports right now. The NBA is heating up, March Madness is here, and MLB is almost back. Every day there's a new headline, a new highlight, a new moment you've got to see for yourself. That's why I stay locked in with the Bleacher Report app. For me, it's about staying connected to my sports. I can follow the teams I care about, get real time scores, breaking news and highlights all in one place. Download the Bleacher Report app today so you never miss a moment.

B (0:29)

Tyler redick here from 2311 racing another checkered flag for the books. Time to celebrate with Chumba. Jump in@chumbacasino.com let's Chumba. No purchase necessary BTW Group void where prohibited by law. CTNC21+ sponsored by Chumba Casino. Reuters and the headline, Apollo CEO Black says he Regrets ties to Epstein, Denies any wrongdoing. This article was authored by Chabuki Ogu and Lawrence Delevingne. So he says he regrets his ties to Epstein, but he denies any wrongdoing. And again, I. I made that pretty clear every time I've ever talked about this guy and these other bankers. I'm not saying that these dudes were involved in the actual trafficking part of Jeffrey Epstein's criminal enterprise. I'm not saying that they were a part of any abuse unless one of the survivors comes out and says differently. What I am saying, though, is that they most certainly enabled Jeffrey Epstein, and it certainly looks like they were engaged in some sort of financial douchebaggery together as well. Now, I don't have that direct evidence to tie that up in a nice little bow for everybody, but I can point to the circumstantial evidence. And you know, when it comes down to it, like I said previously, I'm a big believer in Occam's razor, right? So here we are. Apollo Global Management, Inc. Chief executive Leon Black told the buyout firm's investors on Monday that he regretted having had ties to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but denied any wrongdoing or inappropriate conduct related to his business and social relationship with Epstein. So again, that's the. That's the excuse they'll all use, right? Well, I didn't know what he was up to. I didn't know this dude was such a pervert. I didn't know that he was involved in a child sex trafficking ring. I didn't know that he was trafficking women. And that's the tired and used excuse that these People have used ever since Epstein was arrested the first time around. And guess what? Unfortunately it's been okay. People have accepted it, the legacy media has accepted it. Nobody has really challenged these people on this stuff. And whenever something is brought up, well, they want to run away from it as fast and as far as they can, right? No comment. Or they'll give you some sort of canned comment or like in this instance, they'll play down their relationship with Jeffrey Epstein even. Even though all of the evidence that we have seen points to something completely different. I mean, we're not talking about $5 here, folks, all right? We're not talking about a hundred dollars in a poker game. We're not talking about anything like that. We're talking about 50 to 75 million dollars. That's not the kind of money you give an acquaintance. That's not the kind of money you're just throwing around just because of all the financial advisors, all of the charitable douchebags running around in so called polite society. Jeffrey Epstein was the only one that Leon Black could come up with. Stop it. Black wrote to the firm's investors after the New York Times reported on Monday that he wired between $50 million and and 75 million to Epstein as far back as 2008. And remember, it wasn't just in 2008, right? The relationship spanned a lot longer than that. Much longer. From the time where Epstein was convicted to the time that they supposedly stopped being friends. So you mean in that whole entire time Black had never heard the rumors or of what Jeffrey Epstein truly was? Black had never heard the rumors or had never heard about the non prosecution agreement. Not one word, huh? You know, for people that run around and want us to believe that they're so smart, they're pretty damn stupid, aren't they? Reuters could not determine how long Black continued to wire money. Epstein, who was charged by federal prosecutors with sex trafficking last year and committed suicide in his New York City jail cell in August 2019 before his trial, allegedly. And as far as determining how long Black continued to wire money, it's rather obvious they were homies all the way up till that second arrest. And of course, it's always the same with these people, right? Oh, he stole from me or there was some financial miscalculations on my part or my making was bad. Never, never any kind of real self reflection, right? Never really saying and taking responsibility for the fact that you weren't just a business. Look, if you were just a business associate with this guy, then that's one thing, right? But this Is a whole different matter. Business associates aren't the ones getting invited to that island. Epstein's inner circle and those that he wants to get caught up in his blackmail game, those are the people that are being invited to the island. So my question for Leon Black is. Which one are you, sir? While Black's business ties to Epstein were already known, the time story outlined previously unreported payments as well as socializing between the two financiers. While, well, the one scumbag financier at the very least, which would be Black, and then the pedophile financier, which would be Epstein. You guys notice a trend yet with these so called financiers? It's like socialites. No wonder they go together so well. Two scummy ass institutions. Two scummy ass parts of society. Financier. I'm a financier. Ha ha ha ha. Biff, go get the car. We're going to the golf tournament. Give me a break with these people. I mean, I'm just sickened by them. The whole financier and socialite and all of it needs to be crushed under heel. These people truly believe that they are better than the rest of us. I was completely unaware of and continue to be appalled by the reprehensible conduct that surfaced at the end of 2018 and led to the federal criminal charges brought against Mr. Epstein. Black wrote to Apollo fund investors in a letter seen by Reuters. Now remember, we're going to read that letter as well in its entirety as soon as we're done with this article. But it's bull. Look, it's absolute bullshit. I was completely unaware of and continue to be appalled by the reprehensible conduct that surfaced at the end of 2018 as if it just surfaced in 2018. I mean, a monkey with learning disabilities could Google and figure out that Jeffrey Epstein was a scumbag. You mean to tell me Mr. Hotshot Leon Black, Mr. Apollo Effing Global himself has no idea what Jeffrey Epstein is? And if that's the case and you're an investor out there, why would you put one single dollar into anything that this guy's involved with? If he's too stupid to use a search engine, why would I let him safeguard my money? An Apollo spokeswoman said that Black acted in a personal capacity and that the private equity firm had not done any business with Epstein. Apollo shares dropped 5.7% on Monday to close at $43.90. I love it. Smack them right in the old pocketbook. Oh, you want it to hurt? It's like kicking this guy in the fruits when you blast him in the pocketbook, folks. Take a couple of bucks out of this guy's pocket, forget it. Forget it. That and shame are the two things that move the needle with these people. That is it. That is all. And when I say shame, it's not that they feel shame. I'm talking about shame in the eye of the commoner, right? The plebe, you and I. Because what that does is they're no longer invited into their so called polite society anymore and they become Persona non grata, like we're seeing now in the wake of Epstein's death and Maxwell's arrest. It went from everybody wanting to take a picture with those two, everybody wanting to hang out with those two, to everybody not knowing who they were. It sure is one large ass case of amnesia. Black said in a letter that Epstein provided professional services to his family partnership and related family entities involving estate planning, tax and philanthropic advice. So again, I ask you, Leon Black, one of the richest, most powerful men in the world, needs a nobody like Jeffrey Epstein for services like family partnership and family entities, real estate planning, estate planning, tax and philanthropic advice. You mean to tell me that Leon Black didn't have an accountant on the team? He didn't have a personal accountant. Jeffrey Epstein was the guy, huh? That's who you turn to? Mr. Pedophile Abuser himself. He was that good with numbers, huh? What was the real reason you were spending so much time with him, Mr. Black? What was the real reason there was so much money moving around, Mr. Black. Black also said he met Epstein from time to time at his New York City townhouse and also donated money to charitable organizations he did not identify as that were affiliated with the late financier. Can we quit calling him that? Reuters, please. Pedophile. What do you think? His estate's going to sue you. Kahn and Indyke are going to sue you. They got their own problems. And furthermore, what would they sue you for? It's the truth. So let's stop calling him a financier in these articles, okay? And let's call him what he is.