The release of tens of thousands of documents from investigations into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has revealed a shocking early failure by the FBI, confirming a former employee warned the bureau about his pursuit of child pornography in 1996 – a full decade before the agency opened a formal probe.
A Three-Decade Wait for Acknowledgement
"I've waited 30 years," survivor and artist Maria Farmer told The New York Times, after the US Justice Department made the files public. Among the documents was Farmer's own report to the FBI, believed to be the first time Epstein was reported to law enforcement. "I can't believe it," she added. "They can't call me a liar anymore." The FBI has never publicly acknowledged receiving her 1996 complaint.
Farmer, who accused Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell of sexually assaulting her in a 2019 lawsuit, says she faced years of threats and accusations that she was inventing her story. The newly public documents substantiate her long-held claims.
The Chilling Details of the 1996 Complaint
The complaint details that Farmer warned agents Epstein had stolen photos she took of her 12- and 16-year-old sisters, which she told the Times included nude images. She alleged he may have sold the pictures. Furthermore, Farmer claimed Epstein once asked her to photograph young girls at swimming pools.
The documents also allege that Epstein threatened to burn Farmer's house down if she told anyone about the photos. This intimidation tactic underscores the environment of fear he cultivated around his victims.
Legal Action and Links to Power
In May of this year, Farmer filed a lawsuit against the FBI in Washington, D.C., alleging the bureau did "absolutely nothing" to stop Epstein until it was too late. The lawsuit states the FBI's inaction, violating its obligations, paved the way for further abuse. The bureau did not begin investigating Epstein until 2006.
Farmer has also stated she tried to alert officials to Epstein's connections with powerful figures, including former presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. While both were photographed socialising with Epstein, neither has been accused of criminal wrongdoing related to him.
Farmer recalls a 1995 encounter in Epstein's Manhattan office where Trump stared at her bare legs, prompting Epstein to say, "No, no, she's not here for you." A White House representative denied Trump was ever in Epstein's office, stating the former president had ejected Epstein from his club.
Annie Farmer, Maria's sister, alleges she was invited to Epstein's New Mexico ranch aged 16, where she says Epstein climbed into bed to "cuddle" her and Maxwell gave her a massage, rubbing her bare chest. Maxwell is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking.
Pressure for Full Transparency
Following Friday's release, which contained heavy redactions, scores of Epstein survivors are pushing the US government to disclose more documents. The Justice Department has indicated further materials will be released in the coming weeks.
The Trump administration initially resisted calls for disclosure, though the president ultimately signed a bill in November authorising the release under political pressure. This latest document dump marks a significant, though long-delayed, step towards accountability for the survivors who have fought for decades to be heard.
