Maria Farmer, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse, said she finally felt a sense of vindication on Friday. This came after a report she filed in 1996, detailing his interest in child pornography, was included in a partial release of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice related to the late convicted sex offender.
A Three-Decade Wait for Justice
"I’ve waited 30 years," Farmer told The New York Times. "I can’t believe it. They can’t call me a liar anymore." The FBI had reportedly never publicly acknowledged the existence of her complaint, which was filed years before criminal charges were ever brought against the financier. Farmer, a professional artist, and her sister, Annie Farmer, have long maintained that this was among the very first reports made against Epstein.
The sisters had previously spoken to Vanity Fair in 2002 about the sexual misconduct they experienced at the hands of Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. However, the magazine's then-editor, Graydon Carter, removed all mentions of them from the article prior to publication, reportedly under pressure from Epstein himself.
Chilling Details of the 1996 Complaint
The 1996 report, which Maria Farmer's lawyer confirmed to CNN was filed by her client, contained disturbing allegations. It described an artist—referring to Farmer—who had taken photographs of her 12 and 16-year-old sisters for her personal artwork. According to the document, Epstein stole those photos and negatives and "is believed to have sold" them to potential buyers.
The complaint went further, alleging that Epstein once asked the artist to take pictures of "young girls at swimming pools." It also stated he threatened to "burn her house" down if she ever told anyone about the illicit photographs.
Devastation Over FBI's Inaction
Farmer told The New York Times she "broke down in tears" when contacted about the report's inclusion in the newly released files. Her relief is tempered by profound heartbreak over the FBI's failure to act on her information decades ago, which she believes allowed Epstein's abuse to continue.
"They should be ashamed," Farmer said. "They harmed all of these little girls. That part devastates me." Her statement underscores the tragic consequences of institutional inaction in the face of credible and early reports of predatory behaviour.
