The Tara Palmeri Show

Episode: The Epstein Files: Congress forced to Act?

Date: September 24, 2025
Host: Tara Palmeri
Guests: Kristy Greenberg (former SDNY criminal division deputy chief, MSNBC legal analyst), Michelle Norris (senior contributing editor at Emmett)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Tara Palmeri Show dives deep into the latest Congressional standoff over the potential release of Jeffrey Epstein’s case files. Tara Palmeri, joined by legal analyst Kristy Greenberg and journalist Michelle Norris, explores why Speaker Mike Johnson and certain House Republicans are resisting calls – from both victims and a super majority of the American public – to make these documents public. The episode scrutinizes the political maneuvering, public opinion, and the unearthed truths surrounding the Epstein case, revealing the intersections of power, secrecy, and justice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Congressional Deadlock and Political Calculations

• (01:02): Michelle Norris expresses shock at Speaker Johnson’s inability to control his caucus, especially as some House Republicans refuse to vote for releasing the Epstein files under the guise of protecting the victims.
  • Victims and survivors, now adults, have publicly demanded the files' release, pushing back against the supposed "protection."
  • Quote: “We are adults. We want this out there. We need to understand our story, you know, the broken pieces of our lives. And only you can do that. So stop pretending, stop patronizing us and making us feel like you're protecting us. That's not what we want.” (01:29, Norris paraphrasing survivors)

2. Public Opinion vs. Political Maneuvering

• (02:02): Tara Palmeri stresses the unusual political dynamic: the dissenting House Republicans have overwhelming public support.
  • Quote: “The reason the four are standing strong... is that they have 81% of the public behind them. 81% of Americans think Donald Trump is covering something up.” (02:02, Palmeri)

3. The Acosta Non-Prosecution Agreement & DOJ Failures

• (02:15-02:50): Michelle Norris and Tara Palmeri discuss the infamous non-prosecution agreement (NPA) with Epstein brokered by then-prosecutor Alex Acosta – without reading victim statements.
  • Quote: “All you're getting is dribblings out that Alex Acosta never read the victim's statements before crafting a non prosecution agreement, a sweetheart deal. He never even looks [at the memos].” (02:15, Norris)
  • Kristy Greenberg details how lead prosecutor Marie Vilafagna assembled an extensive memo recommending prosecution for trafficking girls as young as 14, which Acosta and others ignored.
  • Quote: “She recommended transporting and trafficking girls as young as 14 to him. And he didn't even look at the memos. He didn't even look at the testimonies. And then neither did Cash Patel. It's just, it's a slap in the face to those 81% of people who think that something stinks.” (02:50, Greenberg)

4. Political Hypocrisy and Victim Marginalization

• (03:22–04:29): The hosts reflect on the disingenuous political posturing, where Republicans claim to protect victims while actually shielding powerful interests.
  • The narrative among some conservative pundits (Kash Patel, Dan Bongino) is less about seeking justice for victims, and more about using the issue to attack “Democratic elites.”
  • Quote: “Oh no, it was never about the girls. It was about getting the cabal of Democratic elites in their minds. It was never about justice. It just never was.” (03:32, Greenberg)
  • Danny Bensky (guest, referencing private meetings with Republicans): “We had quite a few Republicans come and shake our hand at the end. And it really, I left that room feeling so hopeful, and then to still not have the vote from that side of the room is really disheartening.” (04:06, Bensky)

5. Stonewalling and the Price of Transparency

• (04:35–06:28): Segment focuses on continued governmental redactions, the lack of victim testimony in hearings, and how survivors are tired of being sidelined.
  • Palmeri reveals ongoing survivor efforts to expose Congressional ties to Epstein, including plans for opposition research and public shaming.
  • Quote: “I speak to them frequently. I'm on text chains with a lot of the survivors... And they tell me, you know, they're fed up...and they are lobbying and they are calling and they are trying to figure out how to make the door to justice open, even if they have to break it down.” (05:34, Palmeri)

6. What’s at Stake: Political and Personal Fallout

• (06:28–08:50): Discussion shifts to what might be in the files, particularly concerning Donald Trump, with reference to a previously withdrawn lawsuit and other political figures implicated.
  • Past connections between Trump, other political elites (including Democrats), and Epstein are examined.
  • Quote: “A lot of people will look bad if the full files are released. Right? A lot of people on the left will look bad. And I think a lot of people forget that President Trump was a Democrat back then... This was a different crowd that he used to run around in between Palm beach and New York. And they were friends.” (07:16, Palmeri)
  • Allegations that the Department of Justice had protected Epstein for years, going back to the George W. Bush administration.
  • Quote: “The first case, The Costa case, 2008 sweetheart deal that went all the way to the attorney general under George Bush, went all the way to the White House. I mean, that is saying something. And for so many decades, this story has remained quiet.” (08:18, Palmeri)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “81% of Americans think Donald Trump is covering something up.”
  — Tara Palmeri (02:02)

• “She recommended transporting and trafficking girls as young as 14 to him. And he didn't even look at the memos.”
  — Kristy Greenberg (02:50)

• “It was never about the girls. It was about getting the cabal of Democratic elites in their minds. It was never about justice. It just never was.”
  — Kristy Greenberg (03:32)

• “I speak to them frequently. I'm on text chains with a lot of the survivors... And they tell me, you know, they're fed up... and they are trying to figure out how to make the door to justice open, even if they have to break it down.”
  — Tara Palmeri (05:34)

• “A lot of people on the left will look bad... President Trump was a Democrat back then... They were friends.”
  — Tara Palmeri (07:16)

• “This story has remained quiet... people have a right to want to know why.”
  — Tara Palmeri (08:36)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 01:02 — Congressional gridlock and the false argument of "protecting" victims
• 02:02 — Public opinion: 81% suspect a cover-up
• 02:15 — Alex Acosta's non-prosecution agreement and ignored evidence
• 03:32 — Discussion of the real political motives at play
• 04:06–04:29 — Danny Bensky on behind-the-scenes Republican reactions
• 05:20–06:28 — Survivors’ outreach and new tactics (including opposition research)
• 06:28 — What could be in the files; personal and political reputations on the line
• 08:18–08:50 — DOJ’s longstanding role in protecting Epstein; historical context

Tone and Style

The episode is frank, hard-hitting, and empathetic toward survivors. Palmeri and her guests blend investigative rigor with moral urgency, calling out political actors for hypocrisy and stonewalling. There is a sense of frustration but also of resolve and hope, particularly as survivors become more active in seeking justice.

This summary omits all advertisements, show promotions, and non-content chatter to focus solely on the substantive conversation around the Congressional fight over the Epstein files and its broader implications for transparency and justice at the highest levels of power.