Despite a legal obligation to release all Jeffrey Epstein–related records, Donald Trump’s justice department failed to do so by the deadline, though one newly disclosed document exposed longstanding official inaction and its devastating impact on numerous teenage girls.
The document, an FBI report from 1996 by artist Maria Farmer, shows she warned authorities that Epstein had stolen nude photographs of her sisters, including Annie Farmer, who was later abused by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at age 16.
According to the report, Epstein allegedly took and sold the images, sought additional photos of young girls, and threatened Maria Farmer with arson if she spoke out. Yet the FBI never publicly acknowledged her report, and an internal justice department review ignored it, even as Epstein’s abuse continued for years without prosecution.
Annie Farmer later testified at Maxwell’s 2021 trial that Epstein and Maxwell groomed and sexually abused her, beginning with seemingly benign interactions facilitated through her sister’s employment. She described being subjected to unwanted touching, coerced massages, and sexual abuse during trips to Epstein’s New Mexico ranch, while feeling trapped by fear and manipulation.
Maria Farmer’s attorney said the release of the FBI report was both a triumph and a tragedy, arguing that proper investigation in 1996 could have prevented decades of abuse affecting hundreds of victims.
Annie Farmer, reacting to the disclosure, said seeing proof that authorities had the information all along was deeply emotional and raised painful questions about whether Epstein was ignored or protected by the government.
Annie Farmer, left, and Maria Farmer