Epstein survivors say they feel validated by the Justice Department records release
Some survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse Friday welcomed the release of records in the case, prompted by a federal law that demonstrated the public’s demand to reveal information.
Maria Farmer, who said the complaint she filed with the FBI in 1996 about Epstein was ignored, called the release of the documents “unbelievable” — but she said her feelings included sadness for others who were mistreated.
“It’s amazing. Thank you for believing me. I feel redeemed. This is one of the best days of my life. Of course, that’s on top of the fact that I’m devastated by all the other little girls like Virginia who were hurt because the FBI didn’t do their job,” Farmer said in a statement through her attorneys.
In 1996, Farmer filed a complaint with the FBI’s Miami field office, in which she alleged that Epstein stole photos she took of her 12- and 16-year-old sisters and that she believed the images had been sold.
The complaint also alleged that Epstein requested that photos be taken of young girls in swimming pools.
“I’m crying for two reasons. I want everyone to know that I’m crying tears of joy for myself, but also tears of sadness for all the other victims that the FBI has failed,” Farmer said in a Friday statement.
The Justice Department released thousands of pages of documents related to Epstein on Friday, more than five years after the financier and convicted sex offender committed suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019.
Epstein had been arrested and charged with federal sex trafficking. The federal indictment came more than a decade after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 in Florida to pimping a person under 18 for prostitution and misdemeanor solicitation of prostitution — part of a plea deal that has since been criticized as far too lenient.
The DOJ’s release comes 30 days after President Donald Trump signed into law the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a bipartisan bill that required the DOJ to disclose “all unclassified documents” related to Epstein. The bill provided for limited exceptions, notably to protect victims.
Dani Bensky, who said she was sexually assaulted by Epstein when she was 17, welcomed the release of the documents – but said she and other survivors hoped more information would be released on Friday.
“There is so much information, and yet not as much as we would have liked to see,” Bensky said in an interview with NBC News.
“There’s a part of me that feels a little validated right now, because I think there’s a lot of us that are saying, ‘No, this is real, we’re not a hoax,’” Bensky said.
Some of the photos contained in the 3,500 files posted on the Justice Department’s website appear to be highly sexual in nature and have been redacted. Some are labeled CSAM, which stands for Child Sex Abuse Material.
Not all of the documents were released before Friday’s deadline.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress that more documents would be released in the coming weeks.
He said the law requires victims’ information to be redacted and that “we look at every piece of paper that we’re going to produce” to ensure victims’ names and information are protected.
Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of recruiting and grooming teenage girls to be sexually assaulted by Epstein, is serving a 20-year prison sentence handed down in January 2022.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988, or go to 988lifeline.orgto reach the Suicide & Crisis lifeline. You can also call the network, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
