In a revelation that raises serious questions about institutional failure, it has come to light that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) received a direct complaint about Jeffrey Epstein's predatory behaviour as early as 1996 but took no public action. The complaint, filed by artist Maria Farmer, detailed Epstein's disturbing interest in child pornography and his threats, yet it was ignored for nearly three decades, allowing one of the most notorious sex offenders in modern history to continue his abuse.
The 1996 Warning That Went Unheeded
Maria Farmer has long maintained that she alerted federal investigators almost ten years before authorities launched a full probe into Epstein's crimes. Speaking to The New York Times, Farmer revealed that her 1996 complaint specifically outlined how Epstein had stolen photographs and negatives of her younger sisters, who were aged 12 and 16 at the time. Some of these images were originally taken for her personal artwork.
According to a newly released handwritten FBI report, the allegations were even more severe. Epstein allegedly asked Farmer to take photographs of young girls at swimming pools. When she resisted, he threatened to "burn her house down" if she told anyone. Farmer eventually severed all ties with Epstein after accusing him and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, of sexually assaulting her.
A Sister's Corroborating Testimony and Lasting Harm
Farmer's account is corroborated by her sister, Annie Farmer, who testified during Ghislaine Maxwell's trial. Annie recounted her own traumatic experiences at Epstein's New Mexico ranch, stating that Epstein got into bed with her when she was 16 years old to "cuddle." She also testified that Maxwell once massaged her bare chest.
For Maria Farmer, the government's inaction caused profound and lasting damage. "I've waited 30 years," she told The New York Times. "I can't believe it. They can't call me a liar anymore." While expressing relief at finally being vindicated, she placed blame squarely on the authorities. "They should be ashamed. They harmed all of these little girls," she stated.
Connections to Power and Calls for Accountability
Farmer also urged investigators to examine Epstein's well-documented connections to powerful figures, including former US Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. She recalled an incident in 1995 at Epstein's New York office where she encountered Donald Trump. Farmer, wearing running shorts, said Trump stared at her legs until Epstein intervened, saying, "No, no. She's not here for you." Farmer later overheard Trump remark that he thought she was just 16.
Legal experts and advocates for Epstein's victims are now demanding a thorough investigation into the FBI's handling of the 1996 complaint. Brad Edwards, a lawyer representing many victims, strongly criticized the government's failure. "There should be a full-fledged investigation into every government employee who knew about this document and allowed a narrative to be publicized that it did not exist," Edwards asserted. Notably, a 2020 internal Justice Department review made no mention of Farmer's early complaint.
The recently disclosed FBI report itself downplays Farmer's role, redacting her name and describing her merely as a "professional artist hired by Epstein to acquire artwork." This omission underscores the systemic failure to connect the dots on a predator who operated with impunity for years, protected by silence and institutional neglect.
