Sister of EPSTEIN victim reported him in 1996, but FBI failed to investigate, files reveal

Monday, December 22, 2025 -The recent release of newly unsealed Justice Department files has reignited public outrage, confirming that Maria Farmer reported Jeffrey Epstein to the FBI as early as 1996. 

According to the documents, Farmer provided detailed allegations that Epstein had stolen nude photographs of her younger sister, who was underage at the time, and had issued threats to silence her. Despite the seriousness of the claims and the evidence presented, the FBI failed to launch a meaningful investigation, allowing Epstein to continue operating unchecked for years.

The consequences of that inaction are now impossible to ignore. Survivors and advocates argue that early intervention could have prevented extensive harm to numerous victims. 

Maria Farmer and her sister Annie Farmer, who was abused at age 16, have described the release of the files as both validating and devastating. While the documents confirm they told the truth decades ago, they also expose a systemic failure that enabled ongoing abuse. Maria Farmer has since taken legal action, asserting that federal negligence directly contributed to prolonged victimization.

These revelations are fueling urgent demands for accountability and reform within federal law enforcement. Lawmakers, civil rights groups, and survivor advocates are pressing for a full review of how Epstein-related complaints were handled and why clear warnings were ignored. 

As additional documents continue to surface, public pressure is intensifying for transparency, institutional accountability, and concrete safeguards to ensure that future reports of abuse—especially those involving minors—are never dismissed again.