An early accuser of Jeffrey Epstein filed a lawsuit against the federal government this week, alleging that the FBI did “absolutely nothing” to protect her and other victims after she reported the abuse – ultimately allowing the convicted sex offender and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell to continue exploiting young girls for years.
According to the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Maria Farmer says she first reported Epstein and Maxwell in 1996, claiming she had been sexually assaulted by the pair, who she claims had also “committed multiple serious sex crimes” against other girls.
Farmer alleged they were in “possession, production, and distribution of sexually lascivious or exploitative images of children,” including her minor sisters – allegations that would constitute child pornography under federal law.
Farmer’s attorney Jennifer Freeman said the U.S. violated the Federal Tort Claims Act, which allows people to sue the government for damages caused by negligence of their employees.
“Had the federal government done their job, hundreds of victims would have been spared,” Freeman told NBC News.
