California Governor Gavin Newsom marked Christmas Eve with a pointed jab at former President Donald Trump, releasing a video that highlights the Justice Department’s controversial handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The short clip, shared on Newsom’s X account, zeroes in on the extensive redactions and delays plaguing the release of documents related to the convicted sex offender’s associates and activities.
The video, set to the Mumford & Sons song “White Blank Page,” opens with a voiceover declaring, “And with that, the 2025 season comes to an end. Goodnight.” This is juxtaposed with rapidly flashing pages filled with blacked-out text, symbolizing the heavily redacted nature of the files. Newsom captioned the post with “2025: REDACTED,” a clear implication that the transparency promised for the future remains obscured.
Central to Newsom’s critique is a grainy image of Donald Trump alongside Epstein, initially released by the Justice Department on December 19th, the congressional deadline for the files’ disclosure. This specific image was reportedly removed the following day for “further review,” a move that critics quickly interpreted as an attempt to conceal potentially damaging information about Trump.
While the president is not accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s crimes, and appearances within the files do not inherently imply guilt, the redactions and the removal of the Trump photograph have fueled public speculation. The Justice Department has since released additional documents, some of which mention Trump, though officials have cautioned that certain references may stem from fabricated documents within the case file.
Newsom’s video also draws attention to an internal email from a Southern District of New York assistant U.S. attorney. This email, part of the second batch of released documents, indicated that flight records from Epstein’s private jet showed Trump had traveled on it “many more times than previously has been reported.” This assertion directly challenges a claim Trump made on Truth Social in January 2024, where he stated, “I was never on Epstein’s Plane.”
The timing of Newsom’s video proved particularly striking. Just half an hour after its release, the Justice Department announced the discovery of over a million more documents potentially linked to the Epstein case, acknowledging that their full release could take weeks. A statement emphasized that lawyers were working “around the clock to review and make the legally required redactions to protect victims.”
The Trump administration has faced considerable criticism for the piecemeal release of these sensitive files. Approximately 750,000 documents have been reviewed and disclosed by a team of 200 individuals. Reports suggest an “emergency request” was sent to prosecutors in Florida, asking them to volunteer during the Christmas holiday to assist with the extensive redaction process.
This request, reportedly sent two days before Christmas, acknowledged the difficult timing: “I am aware that the timing could not be worse.” The urgency underscores the monumental task of sifting through and redacting the vast trove of documents while adhering to legal requirements for victim protection and transparency.
Adding to the pressure, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who championed the legislation mandating the files’ release, have publicly suggested that Attorney General Pam Bondi could face contempt charges for failing to meet the initial December 19th deadline. Their stance reflects a broader frustration with the perceived lack of accountability and transparency in the handling of this high-profile investigation.
Newsom’s Christmas Eve trolling serves as a potent reminder of the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the Epstein case and the Justice Department’s efforts to manage its public disclosure. The governor’s timely video effectively amplified public concerns about what remains hidden within the heavily redacted files, particularly in relation to prominent figures like former President Trump.
