From Santa Fe to Silence: Zorro Ranch and Jeffrey Epstein (Part 2 ) (8/11/25)

Matthew I. Menchel, once the Chief of the Criminal Division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, played a pivotal role in shaping the 2007–2008 non-prosecution agreement that spared Jeffrey Epstein from serious federal charges. As the FBI gathered overwhelming evidence against Epstein for trafficking and abusing underage girls, Menchel’s office instead negotiated a secret plea deal that granted Epstein and his co-conspirators broad immunity. Reports later revealed that Menchel had blocked early efforts to arrest Epstein and failed to disclose a prior romantic relationship with one of Epstein’s defense attorneys, Lilly Ann Sanchez—a glaring ethical lapse identified by the Department of Justice’s internal review. His influence within the Miami office made him a key architect of what became one of the most infamous legal failures in modern U.S. history, a betrayal of both the victims and the principles of equal justice.Now, newly surfaced documents have reignited outrage by revealing that Menchel’s connection to Epstein may have gone far beyond the courtroom. Evidence of ski trips, dinners, and personal contact between the two men paints a damning picture of proximity and favoritism that directly undermines any claim of impartiality. If true, these revelations transform an already scandalous case into a full-blown indictment of prosecutorial integrity, suggesting the man charged with holding Epstein accountable was instead socializing with him. For the victims, and for a public already disillusioned by power’s protection of predators, these details are not just shocking—they confirm what many suspected all along: justice in Epstein’s case wasn’t blind. It was bought, brokered, and betrayed from within.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Epstein had dinners with a top Florida prosecutor on his case, docs showBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

20 Okt 27min

The Metropolitan Police (London) have opened an active investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew, Duke of York in 2011 asked one of his taxpayer-funded protection officers to dig up personal information on Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse when she was under 18. According to reports, the bodyguard was allegedly given Giuffre’s date of birth and U.S. Social Security number by the prince, with the aim of finding a criminal record or other damaging material. The police have stated they are “actively looking into” the claims, though so far it is not publicly confirmed whether the officer complied with the request.These revelations come amid wider turmoil for Prince Andrew and the monarchy: he has recently stepped back from some royal titles, including giving up the “Duke of York” style. The allegations raise serious questions about misuse of police resources and the role of protection officers in alleged smear campaigns. The family of Virginia Giuffre (who died by suicide earlier this year) and campaigners are calling for further action, including stripping the prince of his remaining titles, and for parliamentary scrutiny of how the settlement he made with Giuffre and his relationship with convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein have been handled.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:London police investigating report Prince Andrew asked officer to dig up "dirt" on Virginia Giuffre - CBS NewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

20 Okt 13min

According to newly reported emails between Jeffrey Epstein and Leon Black, Epstein pressed Black with aggressive financial demands for years, particularly around 2015 to 2016. Epstein repeatedly insisted on annual payments of roughly US$40 million for providing tax-and-estate-planning services, seeking an upfront US$25 million plus multiple US$5-million bi-monthly installments. He chastised Black’s children and financial advisers, calling them incompetent and saying that their actions had created a “really dangerous mess.”While Black had engaged Epstein for advisory services and reportedly paid over US$150 million over a period of time, the correspondence underscores how Epstein sought to impose unusually high compensation and used personal attacks and pressure tactics. Black maintains that Epstein’s role was limited to legitimate financial work, and investigations (such as the independent review by law firm Dechert LLP) found no conclusive wrongdoing by Black, though substantial payments and tax-planning strategies remain under scrutiny from the U.S.   to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Jeffrey Epstein sent nasty emails to Apollo founder Leon Black demanding millions of dollarsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

20 Okt 18min

The Metropolitan Police (London) have opened an active investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew, Duke of York in 2011 asked one of his taxpayer-funded protection officers to dig up personal information on Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse when she was under 18. According to reports, the bodyguard was allegedly given Giuffre’s date of birth and U.S. Social Security number by the prince, with the aim of finding a criminal record or other damaging material. The police have stated they are “actively looking into” the claims, though so far it is not publicly confirmed whether the officer complied with the request.These revelations come amid wider turmoil for Prince Andrew and the monarchy: he has recently stepped back from some royal titles, including giving up the “Duke of York” style. The allegations raise serious questions about misuse of police resources and the role of protection officers in alleged smear campaigns. The family of Virginia Giuffre (who died by suicide earlier this year) and campaigners are calling for further action, including stripping the prince of his remaining titles, and for parliamentary scrutiny of how the settlement he made with Giuffre and his relationship with convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein have been handled.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:London police investigating report Prince Andrew asked officer to dig up "dirt" on Virginia Giuffre - CBS NewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

20 Okt 14min

Paul Page served as one of Prince Andrew’s royal protection officers within the Metropolitan Police’s elite Royal Protection Command from 1998 to 2004. During that period, he claimed to have witnessed troubling behavior by the Duke of York and unusually lax security surrounding Andrew’s associates—particularly Ghislaine Maxwell, who Page said came and went from Buckingham Palace “at will” and without being logged, something unheard of for any non-royal visitor. Page also described the prince’s domineering and erratic temper toward staff, alleging he frequently berated officers and demanded obsessive control over trivial matters, such as the precise placement of teddy bears on his bed. His later public statements painted a portrait of a man entitled, abrasive, and completely out of touch with normal standards of conduct or decency.Their relationship eventually soured when Page was later convicted of fraud in 2009, though his prior service gave his subsequent revelations about Andrew’s behavior a unique level of access and credibility. In interviews and documentaries, Page said he had initially admired Andrew but grew disgusted by his arrogance, his treatment of staff, and his relationships with controversial figures like Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein. Page’s firsthand accounts have since been widely cited in media reports scrutinizing Andrew’s private life, offering rare insight from inside the royal bubble and underscoring the culture of impunity that surrounded him for years.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

20 Okt 36min

For decades, persistent rumors have swirled suggesting that Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell’s relationship may have been more intimate than either has publicly admitted. Those close to the royal household — including former protection officer Paul Page — have claimed Maxwell enjoyed unprecedented access to Buckingham Palace, reportedly visiting so often that staff assumed she and Andrew were romantically involved. Social insiders described a dynamic of “flirtation and familiarity” between the two, with Maxwell allegedly referring to the Duke as her “old friend” and occasionally boasting about their closeness. Several journalists and biographers have speculated that the pair shared a brief affair in the late 1990s or early 2000s, with some suggesting she acted as both confidante and potential romantic partner.While both have consistently denied any sexual relationship, the rumors remain deeply embedded in the broader Epstein scandal, fueled by photos, travel records, and the sheer frequency of their public appearances together. Maxwell was seen alongside Andrew at multiple social events, private dinners, and high-society gatherings from New York to London, and she was known to personally introduce him to Epstein’s social circle. Even after Epstein’s first conviction in 2008, reports indicate that Andrew continued corresponding with Maxwell — something critics interpret as evidence of a bond far deeper than friendship. Whether romantic or simply co-dependent, their connection has become one of the most scrutinized and damaging aspects of Andrew’s public downfall.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

20 Okt 38min

During his time as the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment from 2001 to 2011, Prince Andrew developed several controversial connections in Libya that would later haunt his public image. Among them was his reported friendship with Tarek Kaituni, a convicted Libyan gun smuggler with ties to the Gaddafi regime. Kaituni allegedly acted as a middleman who facilitated introductions between Andrew and other Libyan figures, including members of Muammar Gaddafi’s inner circle. Multiple outlets have reported that Kaituni boasted of arranging meetings between Andrew and Gaddafi himself, raising questions about the prince’s judgment and whether his official role was used to court unsavory foreign contacts. The scrutiny deepened when reports surfaced of a £1 million payment connected to a Libyan-linked network that allegedly benefited Andrew, involving banker Selman Turk and intermediaries once associated with Kaituni.Prince Andrew’s name was once again dragged into scandal when reports surfaced linking him to a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, businessman Yang Tengbo — also known by the codename “H6.” British security officials alleged that Yang used his relationship with the Duke of York to gain influence and access within elite circles, including royal events and private meetings at Buckingham Palace. Investigators later determined Yang was involved in covert activities on behalf of the Chinese government and banned him from the United Kingdom on national security grounds. While Andrew’s representatives claimed he ended all contact after the allegations surfaced, documents and testimonies suggested their connection ran deeper, including multiple meetings tied to trade and investment discussions during Andrew’s tenure as the U.K.’s Special Representative for International Trade.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

20 Okt 34min

Over the years a growing number of victims and commentators have accused the FBI of gross negligence in handling tips, complaints, and reports about Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking and abuse—failures that arguably allowed his network to flourish unchallenged for decades. In a 2024 lawsuit, 12 alleged victims (referred to as “Jane Does”) sued the U.S. government, claiming that the FBI “repeatedly and continuously” ignored credible reports from as early as 1996 through 2006, even though it received detailed allegations of sexual abuse, trafficking, and underage victims. They contend that despite evidence—photographs, videos, interviews—the bureau failed to open a proper investigation until July 2006, long after Epstein’s malicious activities had been widely reported.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

20 Okt 12min