Documents recently released by the Department of Justice indicate that the FBI was alerted as early as September 3, 1996 about Jeffrey Epstein’s interest in child pornography. A former employee of Epstein, Maria Farmer, reported her concerns, which included threats made by Epstein against her if she disclosed information regarding his illicit activities. This revelation raises serious questions about the FBI’s response to such alarming warnings over the years.
Farmer, who was employed by Epstein to assist with art acquisitions, detailed her complaints in a report that has now come to light. She confirmed to The New York Times that her warning to the FBI included claims about Epstein’s possession of explicit photographs involving young girls. Farmer expressed her emotional turmoil upon the release of these documents, stating, “I’ve waited 30 years. I can’t believe it. They can’t call me a liar anymore.”
In her complaint, Farmer described how Epstein took photos of her younger sisters, aged 16 and 12, for her personal art projects. She accused Epstein of stealing the images and suggested that he may have sold them. Additionally, the documents revealed that Epstein had pressured Farmer to photograph young girls in compromising situations, including at swimming pools.
Farmer indicated that the photographs included nude images, which she had not intended to be shared. She only heard from the FBI a decade after her initial complaint, during the investigation that eventually led to Epstein’s 2008 plea deal in Florida. At that time, she felt her broader concerns about Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, were not fully addressed.
Reflecting on her experiences, Farmer recalled leaving Epstein’s employment following an incident of sexual assault. She also noted that her sister, Annie, later testified about her own unsettling experiences with Epstein, including an invitation to his ranch in New Mexico when she was a teenager. Annie recounted Epstein climbing into bed with her and Maxwell providing inappropriate massages.
The release of these documents is part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates the Department of Justice to disclose unclassified records related to Epstein’s case. This comes amid increasing public demands for transparency surrounding the investigation into the actions of Epstein and his associates.
On October 6, 2023, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee announced they are exploring all legal avenues following Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s statement that not all remaining documents from the investigation would be released. Representatives Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) have expressed intentions to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt of Congress for the failure to meet the document release deadline.
Blanche emphasized the importance of protecting the identities and stories of victims, stating, “What we’re doing is we are looking at every single piece of paper that we are going to produce.” He anticipates further document releases in the coming weeks, which could total several hundred thousand pages.
The implications of these findings are profound, highlighting systemic failures in addressing allegations against Epstein and the need for accountability in the handling of such serious complaints.
