Howard Lutnick and the Jersey Boys Scandal: The Day Cantor’s Dream Collapsed (Part 2) (10/2/25)

The fight over Jeffrey Epstein’s unreleased government files has intensified as several new developments converge on Capitol Hill. House Speaker Mike Johnson is under fire from Democrats for delaying the swearing-in of Adelita Grijalva, Arizona’s newly elected Democrat, who would likely provide the 218th signature needed to force a vote on a discharge petition requiring the release of Epstein’s records. Democrats argue the delay is politically motivated, pointing to instances where Republicans were sworn in within 24 hours of certification. The issue comes amid a PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll showing nearly three-quarters of Americans want all Epstein files released and 61 percent disapprove of the Trump administration’s handling of the case, signaling broad bipartisan frustration with secrecy.At the same time, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick sparked new controversy by publicly claiming Epstein avoided harsher punishment by handing over blackmail videos of powerful clients, calling him “the greatest blackmailer ever.” The remarks prompted Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, to announce plans to compel Lutnick to testify under oath about his comments. Democrats say the combination of Johnson’s delay, overwhelming public demand, and Lutnick’s statement highlights a pattern of obstruction and underscores the urgency for full transparency. With Grijalva still awaiting her seat, Lutnick facing potential testimony, and a discharge petition one vote short, the battle over Epstein’s files is set to remain a defining political fight in the weeks ahead.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

2 Okt 13min

In 2011, Cantor Gaming stormed into Las Vegas with the swagger of Wall Street, led by Howard Lutnick at the helm of the parent company Cantor Fitzgerald and Lee Amaitis running the Nevada operation. Known for pioneering mobile sports wagering and accepting unprecedented high-limit bets—sometimes as large as $500,000—Cantor positioned itself as the cutting edge of sports gaming. To many, it looked like a revolution: bettors flocked to its books at the M Resort and beyond, drawn by the promise of action other operators wouldn’t touch. But behind the gloss of innovation, Cantor became entangled in one of the largest illegal betting scandals in modern history. The so-called “Jersey Boys,” an East Coast ring with deep ties to organized bookmaking, infiltrated the operation through Cantor executive Michael “The Computer” Colbert. With Colbert as their insider, the crew laundered millions through Cantor’s system, exploiting the company’s appetite for volume and its disregard for traditional risk limits.The scheme collapsed in 2012 when Colbert and more than two dozen associates were arrested in a sweeping FBI crackdown. Nevada regulators soon levied one of the largest fines in state history—$5.5 million—citing Cantor’s lack of oversight. Amaitis stepped down in 2016, his reputation scarred, while the Cantor brand itself was rebranded as CG Technology in a failed attempt to shed its baggage. By 2020, the company was sold to William Hill, its ambitions of dominating Las Vegas reduced to a cautionary tale. The Jersey Boys scandal not only crippled Cantor but reshaped the entire sports gaming industry, ushering in stricter compliance, tighter wagering oversight, and a lasting reminder that unchecked ambition and Wall Street arrogance could topple even the flashiest of innovators.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

2 Okt 11min

Alan Dershowitz has repeatedly and vehemently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Jeffrey Epstein, insisting that he never engaged in sexual misconduct with Virginia Giuffre or any other woman tied to Epstein’s trafficking network. He has publicly stated that he never met Giuffre, called her accusations “a complete fabrication,” and pointed to travel records, phone logs, and witness statements as proof of his innocence. Dershowitz has long maintained that he only represented Epstein in legal matters and that any personal contact was limited to professional obligations, not illicit behavior.Beyond denying the specific allegations, Dershowitz has framed himself as a victim of false accusations, portraying the claims against him as part of a broader smear campaign. He has launched defamation lawsuits against Giuffre and her legal team, seeking to clear his name, and has gone on the offensive in media appearances, daring accusers to provide evidence and branding them as liars. Despite the consistency of his denials, his close association with Epstein has kept him under a cloud of suspicion in the public eye, with critics arguing that his combative defense has done little to erase the stain of his proximity to one of history’s most notorious predators.to  contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

2 Okt 39min

The legal battle between Virginia Roberts Giuffre and Prince Andrew quickly spiraled into one of the most contentious royal scandals in modern memory. From the outset, Andrew’s legal team fought aggressively to have the case dismissed, citing Giuffre’s prior settlement with Jeffrey Epstein as grounds to shield him from liability. Giuffre’s lawyers, however, pushed back just as forcefully, determined to keep the prince from evading accountability. The clash played out in the courts and the press, with each new filing drawing global headlines and deepening the damage to Andrew’s reputation.As the pressure mounted, the stakes for the monarchy itself became undeniable. Prince Charles, keenly aware of the danger the scandal posed to the royal family’s already fragile standing, was forced to intervene behind the scenes. Reports suggested that he personally assisted in securing the funds needed for the multimillion-pound settlement, effectively ensuring his brother could avoid a public trial. While the payment brought the case to a close, it also underscored the perception that the royals were circling the wagons to protect one of their own, further fueling criticism that accountability had once again been sidestepped through privilege and money.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

2 Okt 46min

Prince Andrew has pushed for access to the original, unaltered version of the now-famous photograph showing him with Virginia Roberts Giuffre, arguing that the image could hold the key to challenging her allegations. His legal team has questioned the authenticity of the photo for years, suggesting it may have been doctored, and Andrew has maintained he does not recall ever meeting Giuffre despite the picture. By demanding the original, he seeks forensic analysis that could either validate or undermine one of the most damning pieces of evidence tying him to Epstein’s trafficking network.The fallout from Prince Andrew’s decision to settle with Virginia Giuffre was immediate and devastating to his reputation, reinforcing public perception that the royal was attempting to avoid a courtroom battle that could expose damaging details. Though the settlement included no admission of guilt, it was widely seen as a tacit acknowledgment of the seriousness of Giuffre’s claims and further tarnished Andrew’s standing within the monarchy. He was stripped of his military affiliations and charitable patronages, effectively forced into public exile, and the move sparked outrage among critics who argued that a man who insisted he was innocent would have fought to clear his name rather than write a multimillion-pound check. The royal family itself faced intense backlash, accused of protecting its own by allowing Andrew to quietly buy his way out of accountability while the scandal dragged the monarchy’s image through the mud.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

2 Okt 39min

Landon Johnson’s handling of the Epstein article is a textbook example of how media figures bend over backwards to protect the powerful and blur the truth. Instead of cutting through the lies and giving survivors the unvarnished respect they deserve, his framing padded the edges, wrapped Epstein’s network in vague language, and downplayed the scale of the trafficking. That kind of coverage doesn’t happen by accident—it’s a choice. And it’s the exact kind of soft-focus journalism that let Epstein slip through the cracks for decades while children were being abused. Survivors didn’t need another glossy think piece; they needed someone willing to call a trafficker a trafficker and expose the rot at its core.By reducing this horror to something palatable, Johnson didn’t just fail—he actively helped perpetuate the same culture of protection that insulated Epstein and Maxwell for years. His article reads less like journalism and more like PR for predators, wrapped in the language of legitimacy. That isn’t balance, it’s complicity. It tells survivors, yet again, that their pain comes second to reputations, wealth, and access. If journalism is supposed to speak truth to power, then Johnson betrayed the trade by laundering the crimes of a sex-trafficking empire into something safer for the elites who still squirm at the thought of being exposed. This isn’t reporting—it’s part of the cover-up.To contact me:Bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/business/01epstein.htmlBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

2 Okt 32min

For years, major outlets framed Ghislaine Maxwell with euphemisms like “British socialite” or “heiress,” softening the reality of what she actually did. This language wasn’t neutral—it was protective, creating a veneer of glamour and legitimacy around a woman who was actively grooming, recruiting, and enabling the sexual abuse of minors for Jeffrey Epstein. Survivors have long argued that this framing distorted the public’s understanding of the crimes and allowed Maxwell to maintain an image of sophistication instead of infamy. Calling her a “socialite” isn’t just inaccurate; it’s complicit in minimizing the suffering of her victims.It’s long past time to strip away that veneer and call Maxwell exactly what she is: a human trafficker. She was convicted in a court of law for sex trafficking and conspiracy to entice minors—crimes that destroyed countless lives. Continuing to use titles like “socialite” or “heiress” plays into the same elite-friendly narrative that let Epstein operate for decades. Words matter. Framing matters. And in this case, the only framing that honors the truth and the victims is the one that calls her by her real identity: a convicted human trafficker, not a jet-setting socialite.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

2 Okt 25min