An outspoken Jeffrey Epstein accuser calls for judges to unseal his court records

NEW YORK Annie Farmer, one of the most outspoken accusers of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, has urged federal judges to approve the Justice Departments request to unseal documents from their sex trafficking cases. Farmer argued that transparency is essential for achieving justice.

Through her attorney, Sigrid S. McCawley, Farmer responded after judges requested input from victims regarding whether records should be released under the newly enacted Epstein Files Transparency Act. The law mandates that federal agencies make public the extensive files on Epstein and Maxwell, who were accused of abusing young women and girls for decades.

Farmer and other survivors advocated for this legislation, which was signed last month by President Donald Trump. The law requires the Justice Department, FBI, and federal prosecutors to disclose all materials collected during investigations by December 19.

Last week, the Justice Department asked Manhattan federal Judges Richard M. Berman and Paul A. Engelmayer to lift confidentiality orders on grand jury transcripts and other documents from Epsteins 2019 sex trafficking case, as well as records from Maxwells 2021 trial, including search warrants, financial documents, and interview notes from victims.

In a letter to the court, McCawley wrote that nothing should obstruct the victims pursuit of justice or allow further concealment of Epsteins crimes. She criticized authorities for not pursuing others associated with Epstein and Maxwell and requested that any court orders not limit the governments ability to release additional materials.

McCawley emphasized that Farmer is concerned that denying the motions could be used as a justification to withhold critical information about Epsteins abuse.

Epstein, a wealthy financier with ties to prominent figures, died by suicide in jail a month after his 2019 arrest. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking for recruiting and participating in the abuse of Epsteins underage victims and is serving a 20-year sentence.

In a separate court filing, Maxwells lawyer, David Markus, noted she is preparing a habeas petition to challenge her conviction. He said that, following the passage of the transparency law, Maxwell takes no position on the unsealing request but cautioned that releasing the records now could prejudice her right to a fair retrial if her petition succeeds. Markus stated that the files contain untested and unproven allegations.

Judge Engelmayer, considering the unsealing of Maxwells records, gave her and the victims until Wednesday to respond to the Justice Departments request, with the government required to reply by December 10. Berman, who oversaw the Epstein case, set deadlines for responses from victims and Epsteins estate, with the government due to reply by December 8. Both judges indicated they would rule promptly.

Epsteins estate expressed no objection to the unsealing but noted that personal identifying information would be appropriately redacted. Last week, victims attorneys raised concerns that some released documents from the House Oversight Committee had not been properly redacted, exposing victims identities. Brad Edwards, representing survivors, emphasized that transparency must not compromise the privacy or safety of sexual abuse victims.

Author: Aiden Foster