The Tara Palmeri Show

Episode: BOMBSHELL Email: Epstein Didn’t Deny Virginia Giuffre’s Sex Claim About Ex-Prince Andrew

Date: February 17, 2026
Host: Tara Palmeri
Guests/Panelists: Piers Morgan, David Boies, Michael Tracy, John Kiriakou, Mike Benz

Episode Overview

This episode dives deeply into new revelations from the Epstein files, focusing on a bombshell email where Jeffrey Epstein failed to deny that Virginia Giuffre (née Roberts) had sex with former Prince Andrew (now Andrew Mountbatten Windsor). Tara Palmeri and an expert panel discuss the sustained smear campaigns against victims, the incomplete release of Epstein files, media complicity, legal perspectives, and the ongoing push for transparency and accountability for powerful individuals involved in the Epstein saga.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bombshell Epstein Email and Its Implications

• Context: Newly released Epstein files include a 2015 email from journalist Landon Thomas to Epstein, referencing Prince Andrew (now Mountbatten Windsor) and Virginia Giuffre.
• The Email:
  Thomas’s email suggests, “he [Andrew] had consensual sex with VR [Virginia Roberts] and VR worked for you. The rest is atmospherics. You have moved on.”
• Epstein's Response:
  Epstein replies with dismissiveness rather than denial:

  “This is old news. Buy dollar and take a nap. Kind of like buying Apple.” (paraphrased, [06:12])
  Notably, Epstein offers no denial to this core allegation.

• Tara’s Analysis:
  Tara underscores the lack of denial:

  "He doesn’t say, ‘No, it's not true’... It’s gross that reporters were consulting him on cleaning up his image as a sex offender and known pedophile." ([03:18])

• Media Complicity:
  Thomas Landon allegedly sought money from Epstein and never published about the scandal.

2. Media and Power Networks Enabling Epstein

• Discussion of Journalists’ Ethics:
  • Other journalists (e.g., Michael Wolff) had close relationships with Epstein and sought financial/personal favors, raising questions about hidden stories.
  • Steve Bannon’s recorded interviews with Epstein, and media figures with financial or personal proximity to Epstein, are scrutinized for failures of public disclosure and journalistic duty.
• Quote:

  "Could you imagine... if those people controlled the press, we might never have heard of the MeToo movement." – Tara ([04:42])

3. Release, Redaction, and Concealment of Epstein Files

• Pam Bondi’s Announcement:
  Only 3.5 million out of 6 million files are released; 2.5 million are withheld, raising questions about motives: victim protection vs. national security.
• Discussion:
  Tensions surface about selective redactions and “case closed” announcements, fueling conspiracy and public distrust.
  • “It’s all very confusing. We don’t know what they’ll actually do with any of this.” – Tara ([07:35])
• High-Profile Names:
  The file dump included celebrities, politicians, and business figures; names alone do not indicate wrongdoing.

4. Continuing Smear Campaigns Against Victims & Journalists

• Michael Tracy’s Critique:
  Tracy argues the “Epstein mythology” is overblown, claims lack of credible evidence for a global conspiracy, and targets lawyers and journalists like Tara and David Boies as fomenting moral panic.
  • “People like Tara Palmeri and David Boies are convincing untold millions that there was some enormous child rape atrocity...” ([13:21])
• Tara’s Response and Attack:
  Tara rebuts Tracy’s criticism, questions his motives, and stands by her reporting and fact-checking:

  “Who do you work for, Michael? ... Are you being paid by any of the men who’ve been accused by Jeffrey Epstein?” ([56:37])

  • Tracy evades, then responds indignantly ([57:15]–[59:00]); Piers notes, “Astonishing coincidence that you suddenly lost your hearing when you were asked a very difficult question...” ([57:26])

5. Legal Perspective: David Boies Interview

• Overwhelming Evidence:
  • David Boies:

    “The idea that anybody can, with a straight face, deny that this was a massive sex trafficking scheme, is between absurd and pathetic. We have the testimony of dozens, dozens, many dozens of young women, girls... police reports... photographs... emails...” ([25:42])

• Settlements and Accountability:
  • Prince Andrew’s settlement with Giuffre (reportedly $12M–$16M) is discussed as an act of evasion, not evidence of innocence ([24:00]–[25:00]).
  • Boies insists that the release of files is not full transparency and calls for further Congressional or judicial intervention ([27:37]).
• Presidents Trump and Clinton:
  • Boies sees no evidence implicating either in sex trafficking ([29:39]).
• Obligation of Witnesses and Suspects:
  • Emphasizes that Prince Andrew and Lord Mandelson should testify, with guarantees of safe passage if needed ([32:14], [37:48]).
• On Maxwell and Clemency:
  • Strongly opposes any notion of clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell:

    “There is no basis, none, for clemency. To give clemency or pardon... would be a travesty.” ([42:41])

6. Panel & Expert Insights

• John Kiriakou (former CIA):
  • Asserts Epstein was likely a Mossad 'access agent,' and possibly an intelligence broker for CIA, FBI, MI5, MI6 ([48:24]).
  • Criticizes Maxwell's “special treatment” in US prison system as “just wrong” ([47:12]).
• Mike Benz (ex-State Dept.):
  • Calls for a Congressional declassification approach akin to the JFK Records Act ([49:41], [51:49]).
  • Spotlights deep State and institutional protection of power.
• Piers Morgan’s Reflections:
  • Emphasizes lack of genuine transparency:

    “You can't hold back 3 million files and say, that's all you’re getting. Right. The conspiracy theories will continue to rage...” ([17:02])

  • Pushes for full disclosure with redaction of only victims’ identities.
• Michael Tracy (continued):
  • Doubles down on skepticism, suggesting the “mass hysteria” serves law firms seeking multimillion-dollar settlements ([54:45]).
  • Claims no credible court-adjudicated proof of widespread sex trafficking beyond self-identified “victims.”

7. Tara Palmeri’s Reporting Values

• Tara emphasizes the diligence, rigor, and ethical foundation in her investigation, particularly her collaboration with Giuffre and broader investigation into the Epstein case:

  “I always made sure to have two sources on everything, at least. And we use the same fact checker that they used at the New Yorker for their Harvey Weinstein coverage…” ([11:12])

• She confirms her commitment to exposing the abuses of the powerful and supporting victims, despite personal attacks.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the unreleased files:

  “You can’t hold back 3 million files and say, that’s all you’re getting. Right. The conspiracy theories will continue to rage.”
  – Piers Morgan ([17:02])

• Epstein’s non-denial email:

  “This is old news. Buy dollar and take a nap. Kind of like buying Apple.”
  – Jeffrey Epstein ([06:12], as read by Tara Palmeri)

• On the scope of evidence:

  “The evidence is just overwhelming. ... It’s not a close call.”
  – David Boies ([25:42])

• On media failures:

  “It just explains why in 2015 he knew this story. And yet I don’t remember him reporting on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, do you?”
  – Tara Palmeri ([04:18])

• On Michael Tracy’s line of questioning:

  “Who do you work for, Michael? ... Are you being paid by any of the men who’ve been accused by Jeffrey Epstein?”
  – Tara Palmeri ([56:37])

• On Maxwell and clemency:

  “There is no basis, none, for clemency… That would be a travesty.”
  – David Boies ([42:41])

Important Segment Timestamps

• Epstein Email and Media Complicity: [03:00]–[07:00]
• Pam Bondi, Epstein File Redactions: [07:30]–[08:45]
• Panel Opening (Morgan, Palmeri, Tracy): [13:21]–[19:21]
• David Boies Legal Interventions: [25:42]–[45:46]
  (Key topics: overwhelming evidence, Prince Andrew’s accountability, full transparency, Trump/Clinton, Maxwell’s clemency)
• Intelligence, Media, and the State:
  Mike Benz and John Kiriakou on intelligence ties and the need for further declassification ([46:37]–[52:23])
• Climactic Crossfire (Palmeri vs. Tracy): [55:54]–[59:35]

Episode Flow & Tone

The episode maintains Tara Palmeri’s forthright, adversarial investigative style—fearless in pursuit of accountability, deeply critical of institutional failings, and unsparing of journalists and power brokers who enabled or minimized Epstein’s crimes. Heated moments between panelists emphasize the ongoing battle over public narratives, journalistic credibility, and the fight for full disclosure. The high-profile legal and media voices offer authority, while personal attacks and evasions highlight the stakes and sensitivities surrounding the Epstein case’s legacy.

Conclusion

This episode offers a compelling look into the latest revelations from the Epstein files, interrogates media, legal, and governmental complicity, and documents the ongoing struggle for transparency and justice for victims. Tara Palmeri asserts the importance of independent journalism in exposing cover-ups perpetrated by the world’s most powerful figures.