The Jim Acosta Show

Episode: Breaking News: Trump DOJ Misses Deadline to Release All Epstein Files

With Guests: Tara Palmeri and Skye Perryman

Date: December 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the breaking news that the Trump Justice Department failed to meet the legal deadline to release the full set of Jeffrey Epstein files, releasing only a partial, cherry-picked trove heavily focused on Democratic figures. Jim Acosta, alongside journalist Tara Palmeri and legal advocate Skye Perryman, dissects the politics and legal maneuvering behind the release, the substance (and omissions) so far, and what it signals about transparency, accountability, and the ongoing fight for the truth about Epstein and those associated with him.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. DOJ Fails Legal Deadline on Epstein Files

• Acosta opens with the announcement that the DOJ will not meet the Friday deadline for full file release. Only a selection of files is being declassified and published ("murky," "unclear").
• Tara Palmeri explains the DOJ's stated reasons: ongoing victim identification and sensitive information redaction, but notes deep skepticism about their process and the timing.

  "As of Monday, the Justice Department... we're still going through the process by which we identify victims... they're very much behind... I had zero doubt that by Friday they were going to get this together." (00:47)

• The files uploaded so far to the DOJ website are described as incomplete—primarily photographs and institutional documents, not the full investigative record.

2. Content of Released Files: A Suspicious "Dump"

• Acosta & Palmeri live-review some file contents on air: photos of Epstein's New York residence, gym equipment, closets, and a notable lack of images with people—especially any featuring Donald Trump.
• Palmeri highlights the concern many observers have: the potential political curation or redaction of incriminating material relating to Trump or his associates.

  "We're kind of leaving it up to themselves to self-regulate. And have they ever been good at that, the Department of Justice?" (05:46)

3. Political Framing and Cherry-Picking

• Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General, goes on Fox News to frame the partial release as a move toward "transparency," while shifting blame for prior inaction to Democrats.

  "President Trump has said for years that he wants full transparency and he wants the Department of Justice to release everything that we can..." (02:03)

• This framing is discussed as disingenuous, given evidence of Republican strategy memos urging selective release of files damaging to Democrats, notably Bill Clinton.

  "If all that you see are his [Trump's] enemies... then you know that they have been spending round the clock... to make sure that President Trump's name was redacted..." – Tara Palmeri (18:31)

4. What’s In These Files—And What’s Missing

• The files released so far skew heavily toward neutral or damaging-to-Democrats imagery (multiple photos of Bill Clinton, documents, and Jane Doe complaints with redacted names).
  • "As far as we can tell so far... there are a lot of Bill Clinton references that are immediately available." (16:43)
  • "We know from the House Oversight Committee Democrats, they've released photos of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein... If the Trump administration is not going to put out photos... then you know that there's something fishy going on here." (22:26)
• No evidence is found so far of Trump implicated in the so-called dump; instead, there are claims of systematic redactions, especially around Trump's presence.
• Jane Doe testimony and court records are present, with references to the structure of Epstein’s trafficking operations (recruitment, payments), but victims’ names are appropriately withheld.

5. Bureau of Prisons Surveillance Video

• Some prison surveillance video is included, relating to the night of Epstein’s death, addressing longstanding conspiracy theories over video gaps.
  • "There was this whole hullabaloo...a block of 1 minute from 11:59pm to midnight... was not there... I guess they have found the complete footage..." (14:13)
• Footage appears inconclusive; no direct evidence is shown of Epstein or his death, prompting skepticism.

6. Legal and Political Fallout

• Skye Perryman (Democracy Forward) alleges that the partial release is a "cherry-picked" political play, not genuine transparency. Her organization is pursuing lawsuits for broader disclosure, including internal communications about the cover-up.

  "They're not completely releasing this. So now what you're seeing is a very cherry-picked release... We filed a first of its kind lawsuit... What are they hiding?" (24:51)

• Congressional leaders, notably Senator Chuck Schumer, contend the DOJ is in violation of the newly passed Epstein Files Transparency Act.

7. Broader Political Context: Trump’s Other Transgressions

• Acosta segues into Trump’s controversial decision to rename the Kennedy Center, drawing parallels to his disregard for both law and public norms.
  • "Here we are at the scene of yet another crime committed by Donald Trump. He has vandalized the Kennedy center by putting his name on it." (30:32)
• This action is described as emblematic of Trump's willingness to ignore legal or ethical boundaries for personal aggrandizement, further deepening the show’s theme of lawlessness and impunity.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On DOJ’s Self-Policing:

  "We're kind of leaving it up to themselves to self-regulate. And have they ever been good at that, the Department of Justice?"
  — Tara Palmeri (05:46)

• On the File Release Strategy:

  "If all you see are his enemies... then you know that they have been spending round the clock... to make sure that President Trump's name was redacted."
  — Tara Palmeri (18:31)

• Acosta’s Summary of the Dump:

  "What we've seen so far released by the Justice Department, as far as we can tell, basically all we've seen are pictures of Bill Clinton and a lot of pictures of closets and workout rooms and furniture and that sort of thing."
  — Jim Acosta (24:23)

• Legal Challenge:

  "There's also documents... What lengths has this administration gone to to try to now conceal the files? What is this cover up...?"
  — Sky Perryman (35:28)

• On Trump's Optics:

  "He is making a mockery of that because he does not respect us. He does not respect you and I. He does not respect this democracy."
  — Jim Acosta (37:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–01:34 — Acosta and Palmeri introduce the missed deadline and discuss DOJ’s claims about redactions/victim protection.
• 01:45–03:50 — Todd Blanche’s Fox appearance; DOJ begins phased file release, unclear what the content is.
• 04:07–07:24 — Live review of released files; discussion of incomplete and suspicious content.
• 08:17–11:47 — Discovery of Jane Doe records, Bureau of Prisons video footage, lack of incriminating imagery.
• 13:49–16:43 — Old Clinton-Epstein images leak; discussion of Republican strategy memo for media damage control.
• 18:31–21:46 — Political implications of cherry-picking; possible systematic exclusion of Trump-related material.
• 24:51–28:01 — Skye Perryman on lawsuits, transparency, and Democratic pushback.
• 30:32–35:11 — Segment on Trump defacing the Kennedy Center; interviews with D.C. patrons decrying the action.
• 35:11–38:43 — Legal recourses, pressure campaigns, and the fight for full transparency.

Conclusion/Takeaways

• The Trump DOJ failed to meet the legal mandate for full Epstein file release, opting for a partial, likely politically calculated limited dump.
• The files released so far focus heavily on Democratic figures, especially Bill Clinton, while there are strong indications of concerted efforts to omit or redact incriminating material relating to Donald Trump.
• Both journalists and legal advocates expect and are fighting for further disclosures—via lawsuits, congressional action, and continued reporting.
• The broader episode frames these transparency failures within a theme of continued lawlessness, politicization of justice, and the vital need for public pressure and vigilance in holding power to account.
• Acosta ends with a call to hold onto truth and not give into official lies or intimidation.

Final Word:

"We're not going to give in to the lies. We are not going to give in to the fear. And we are going to hold on to the truth and hope, everybody. We're going to hold on to the truth and hope."
— Jim Acosta (End)