The Tara Palmeri Show

Episode: Epstein Files Release at Risk — DOJ Delays & Redaction Battles Slow Everything Down
Host: Tara Palmeri
Guest: Christy Greenberg (Former Prosecutor)
Date: December 10, 2025

Overview

In this urgent and revealing episode, Tara Palmeri investigates why the long-awaited release of the Jeffrey Epstein files is facing serious delays, bureaucratic redactions, and basic failures by the Department of Justice (DOJ)—all with the lives and reputations of survivors on the line. Joined by former prosecutor Christy Greenberg, the discussion exposes how the DOJ may be protecting the powerful while failing to shield victims from harm, and explores doubts about whether real transparency or accountability will ever be achieved.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Victims’ Privacy Violated

• DOJ Released Names of Survivors, Including Minors
  • Dozens of Epstein abuse survivors have had their identities released publicly, unredacted, without consent.
  • This is particularly shocking as the FBI ensured President Trump’s name was scrubbed from the same files.
  • Tara:

    "Imagine this. You are a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein...and then you find out that your name has been released to the public unredacted, without your consent. That has happened to dozens of women. Meanwhile, the FBI scrubbed President Trump's name from the same files. How is that justice?" (02:38)

2. Why Don’t More Victims Come Forward?

• Barriers Include Fear and Intimidation
  • Many people question why more Epstein victims don’t step forward or name abusers.
  • Survivors face extreme intimidation from influential abusers, as well as shame and trauma, especially for those recruited as minors.
  • Tara:

    "...the fear, the intimidation, the types of people that they're up against who have...endless amount of money, power, influence to essentially squash them before they even are able to speak out." (07:43)

3. DOJ’s “Lip Service” to Victims (Judge Engelmeier)

• Basic Legal Protections Ignored
  • Judge Paul Engelmeier’s recent order criticized the DOJ for repeatedly failing to notify or consult victims before releasing documents—a requirement by law.
  • Greenberg:

    "He actually said the words 'lip service.' And...You are not giving them, the Department of Justice, the solicitude, the consideration that they deserve." (09:53)

• Victims' Right to Privacy
  • Survivors can support file release while still deserving anonymity and privacy under the law (Crime Victims Act and Epstein Transparency Act).

4. Process Failures and Accountability Gaps

• No Point-of-Contact for Victims or Attorneys

  • DOJ filings lack the usual line prosecutors; filings were only signed by top officials, leaving victims and lawyers without clear contact.
  • Only 10 days before the court’s deadline did DOJ setup a generic email for victim redaction requests.
  • Greenberg:

    "It's being buried in a court filing makes no sense." (15:15)

• Apparent Prioritization of Powerful Figures’ Privacy

  • FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) files had names of public figures (including President Trump) redacted for privacy.
  • Greenberg:

    "Why is that what they were concerned with? Why weren't they going through and saying, hey, are there any leads here to investigate?" (16:58)

5. Can DOJ Be Trusted?

• Victims’ Lawyers and Trust in the System

  • Brad Edwards, a longtime victims’ lawyer, believes DOJ processes are opaque, and that real back-and-forth with victims’ counsel is absent (13:17).
  • Greenberg:

    "...They are not doing these things shows they're really not very interested at all in protecting victims. And this really is what the judge just said. Lip service." (12:44)

• Failed Investigative Intent

  • Judge Engelmeier’s order emphasized DOJ only gave “victim privacy” as a reason for redactions, not “ongoing investigation,” casting doubt on real prosecutorial effort.
  • In July 2025 DOJ memo, the Department said it saw no reason to open further investigations into "uncharged third parties"—even as hundreds of additional victims came forward with information (26:38).

6. Practical Challenges to Releasing the Files

• Enormous Volume—With Minimal Preparation
  • The Bloomberg exposé revealed the FBI worked overtime on redactions, but primarily for Trump’s and other public figures’ names.
  • DOJ is still, days before deadline, trying to determine who victims are and how to protect them.
  • Greenberg:

    "There is no way that this will—all the Epstein files that should be released will be released by December 19, according to these documents that they're filing in court...There is no way...they would be able to pull all of this together in 10 days." (31:08)

7. Calls for Oversight and True Transparency

• Court-Mandated Certification
  • Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton is now required by Judge Engelmeier to personally certify redactions have been properly handled before release.
  • Victims have direct recourse to the court for privacy complaints (32:35-34:02).
• Ongoing Congressional Interest
  • Tara and others call for congressional investigation to ensure files are not “redacted improperly.” (32:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On DOJ’s Dismissive Attitude:
  Greenberg:

  “...They don't, they've shown, they don't really care.” (24:13)

• On DOJ’s Redaction Priorities:
  Greenberg:

  “They already knew that this material was out there. They had a process, according to Bloomberg, to redact Trump's name and to redact other public figures' names from these materials. Why is it that they're just figuring out a process now to redact information from the victims?” (25:49)

• On the True Scale of the Victimization:
  Greenberg:

  “There are hundreds of victims now that you didn’t know about. And all you had to do was go talk to victims' counsel and get their information.” (27:45)

• On DOJ’s Disregard for Investigation:
  Greenberg:

  “It’s not that they didn’t have any basis to investigate, it’s that they didn’t bother to actually find out...They didn’t talk to any of these people.” (28:38)

• On Timeline for File Release:
  Greenberg:

  “There is no way that...all the Epstein files that should be released will be released by December 19...It is not going to be anything anywhere close to everything that they need to produce under the act.” (31:08)

• On DOJ Response to Victim Complaints:
  Greenberg:

  “It was just very defensive, unnecessarily. Stop focusing on, you know what, who's to blame and solve the problem in front of you.” (36:58)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Discussion of Victims' Names Publicly Released: 02:38 – 09:14
• Christy Greenberg on DOJ's “Lip Service” & Legal Failing: 09:14 – 13:17
• The Lack of DOJ Process and Communication: 14:08 – 15:55
• Redaction of Trump's Name vs. Survivors’ Lack of Redaction: 16:43 – 18:37
• Judge’s Order and the Need for Accountability: 32:35 – 35:12
• DOJ’s Failure to Investigate Despite Hundreds of New Victims: 26:38 – 29:47
• Realism About the December 19 Release Deadline: 31:08 – 32:10
• Closing Critique of DOJ’s Excuses and Procedures: 36:29 – 37:16

Conclusion & Takeaways

This episode of The Tara Palmeri Show is a must-listen for anyone wanting to understand the institutional rot and bureaucratic indifference that has let Epstein's survivors down again. Despite promises of accountability and transparency, the department tasked with protecting the vulnerable is shown to be preoccupied with protecting the powerful, lacking in basic procedures, and failing to establish trust with survivors. Tara and Christy demand real answers, procedural integrity, and true accountability—reminding us why journalism and direct oversight on such scandals remain crucial.

Listen to the full episode for more on the fight for transparency, the victims’ voices, and ongoing coverage of the Epstein files.