Shocking documents released this week reveal the FBI was warned about Jeffrey Epstein's possession of child sexual abuse material a full decade before his eventual arrest, but failed to act on the information.
A 30-Year Wait for Acknowledgement
According to the newly public files, artist Maria Farmer filed a formal complaint with the FBI on September 3, 1996. She reported that Epstein, for whom she worked acquiring art, had stolen nude photographs she had taken of her 12 and 16-year-old sisters for her personal artwork. Farmer stated Epstein had threatened to 'burn her house down' if she told anyone about the images.
In an interview, Farmer confirmed the stolen photos included nude images. She only discovered they were missing after fleeing Epstein's employ following what she described as a sexual assault by both Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
'I've waited 30 years,' Farmer told the New York Times upon the release of the documents. 'I can't believe it. They can't call me a liar anymore. They should be ashamed. They harmed all of these little girls. That part devastates me.'
A Systemic Failure with Tragic Consequences
The FBI never publicly confirmed or acted upon Farmer's 1996 complaint. The report only came to light now as part of a vast trove of documents released by the Department of Justice under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. An internal investigation into the DOJ's handling of the Epstein case did not even mention Farmer's early report.
Jennifer Freeman, Maria Farmer's lawyer, called the revelation a 'triumph and tragedy.' She stated, 'Had the government done their job, and properly investigated Maria's report, over 1000 victims could have been spared and 30 years of trauma avoided.'
Farmer says the published version of her complaint is incomplete. She claims she also urged investigators at the time to examine Epstein's wider circle of confidants and his companion, Maxwell.
Broader Allegations and Celebrity Links
The latest document dump also included never-before-seen photos of Epstein with various celebrities, including Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, former US president Bill Clinton, and Sir Mick Jagger. Authorities stress that presence in the photos implies no wrongdoing.
Farmer's sister, Annie Farmer, testified at Maxwell's 2021 trial that she was 16 when Maxwell gave her a nude massage at Epstein's New Mexico ranch. She also told the court that Epstein climbed into bed with her to 'cuddle.'
Maria Farmer did not hear from the FBI again until a decade after her initial report, when the agency launched a fuller investigation that ultimately resulted in Epstein's controversial 2008 plea deal.
