{
  "id": 4894597,
  "title": "New Leon Black book picks fight with the Times",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/new-leon-black-book-picks-fight-with-the-times",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-01T16:11:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Semafor",
    "slug": "semafor",
    "url": "https://www.semafor.com/article/09/01/2026/new-leon-black-book-picks-fight-with-the-times"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In October 2020, The New York Times exposed that finance pioneer Leon Black had been a significant financial supporter of Jeffrey Epstein, continuing his financial ties to Epstein despite others distancing themselves. Author Bill Cohan's new 673-page biography of Black presents a contrasting account, focusing on Black's brilliance in finance overshadowed by personal weaknesses rather than any serious involvement in Epstein's more sinister activities. Cohan views his book as a response to what he calls a \"Leon jihad\" from the Times and other media outlets, including the Financial Times and Airmail. Cohan claims he was treated unfairly in the coverage, with Times journalists David Enrich and Matt Goldstein \"laying into\" him and their portrayal in the book. Cohan has included text messages between Goldstein and one of Black's accusers in his book, which the Times' journalists claim they were not given an opportunity to respond to. Cohan maintains he interviewed Goldstein during the reporting process. The primary disagreement lies in how Black's influence on the American financial landscape should be perceived. Cohan believes the Times journalists are frustrated because Black has refused to speak with them, despite the Times' reported role in helping Black manage a $20 million payout to multiple women. House Oversight Chairman James Comer is attempting to compel Black to explain these payments, while Senator Ron Wyden suggests they may constitute money laundering, both of which Black denies. The Times maintains that their reporting was fair and accurate, despite the subsequent revelations about Epstein. The Times's Andrew Ross Sorkin is set to interview Cohan at the 92nd Street Y on September 9.",
  "summary": "Bill Cohan’s new biography is aimed, in part, at rebutting The New York Times’ coverage of Black and his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}