Maria Farmer says she’s been vindicated after the DOJ released a 1996 complaint she filed accusing Jeffrey Epstein of stealing and selling photos of her underage sisters. The document, dated Sept. 3, 1996, was classified as a possible 'child pornography' matter and references girls aged 12 and 16. Farmer claims the FBI did not act on her report; she later sued the DOJ and also brought a separate 2019 lawsuit that was settled with Epstein’s estate. The DOJ published the documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act and said more records will follow.
1996 Epstein Complaint Made Public: Maria Farmer Says She’s Finally Vindicated
Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in federal custody in 2019.
The Department of Justice on Friday released thousands of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, including a previously withheld 1996 complaint filed by artist Maria Farmer. Farmer says the disclosure finally vindicates her after the FBI dismissed her concerns about Epstein more than three decades ago.
What the Released File Shows
The complaint, dated Sept. 3, 1996, alleges that Epstein stole and sold photographs of Farmer’s younger sisters, then aged 12 and 16. The document is marked as a possible 'child pornography' matter and describes accusations that Epstein had asked others to photograph young girls at swimming pools and threatened a witness with arson to keep her silent.
Farmer’s Reaction and Confirmation
Names in the released complaint were redacted, but The New York Times confirmed with Farmer that she filed the report. Farmer told the paper she feels vindicated: 'I’ve waited 30 years. … I can’t believe it. They can’t call me a liar anymore.'
Epstein accuser Annie Farmer holds up a photo of her younger self with her sister Maria Farmer during a news conference with lawmakers on the Epstein Files Transparency Act outside the U.S. Capitol Nov. 18, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Legal and Historical Context
Farmer worked for Epstein as an artist and has publicly described abusive behavior by him. She and her sister Annie later filed separate lawsuits in 2019 alleging sexual assault by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell; those suits were later dropped after the sisters accepted compensation from Epstein’s estate as part of settlement agreements.
In July, Farmer sued the DOJ, alleging the Clinton-era FBI 'chose to do absolutely nothing' after her 1996 complaint and that continued inaction allowed Epstein to victimize more women. Farmer also says she reported concerns again to the FBI in 2006.
Ongoing Release and Reactions
The records were published under the Epstein Files Transparency Act and represented an initial tranche of tens of thousands of pages released by the DOJ. Some accusers and advocates have criticized the rollout as incomplete and heavily redacted; the department has said additional files will be released in the coming weeks.
The disclosure has also fueled political controversy: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer publicly accused the prior administration of a possible 'cover-up' amid disputes over the scope of the records made public.
Key takeaway: The newly released 1996 complaint adds to documented allegations that were not prosecuted at the time and underscores calls for greater transparency about how authorities handled early reports of Epstein’s conduct.
