Survivors of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse have voiced profound disappointment and anger following a partial and heavily censored release of documents by the US Department of Justice. The release, which was mandated by law to be complete by Friday, has been condemned as a failure of transparency and a continued obstruction of justice for victims.
Survivors Decry 'Brazen' Act Violation and Stalling Tactics
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, survivor Liz Stein accused the Department of Justice of "really brazenly going against the Epstein Files Transparency Act". She expressed fears of a "slow rollout of incomplete information without any context", a process she says further traumatises those seeking closure.
"The fight for justice has spanned decades, continents and political administrations," Stein stated, adding the simple demand: "We just want all of the evidence of these crimes out there." Despite the "great cost" to victims, she hopes the eventual full disclosure will become a "path to justice".
Another survivor, Lisa Phillips, who met Epstein in her 20s and suffered years of abuse from him and his associates, was equally critical. She told CNN she believes the Department of Justice, under officials from the Trump administration, was "protecting themselves, not the victims" by releasing only partial, redacted files.
"I feel like they have so much information to start connecting the dots and for survivors to get justice. But as you’re seeing, we just keep stalling," Phillips added, highlighting the enduring frustration.
Revealed: 1996 FBI Report Shows Early Missed Opportunity
Among the newly released documents is one piece of evidence that underscores the scale of the alleged institutional failure. Lawyer Jennifer Freeman, who represents survivor Maria Farmer, highlighted a critical FBI report from 1996. This document formally recorded Farmer's attempt to report her abuse by Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
"Maria Farmer reported Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes in 1996," Freeman told journalist Victoria Bekiempis. "Had the government done their job, and properly investigated Maria’s report, over 1,000 victims could have been spared and 30 years of trauma avoided."
This revelation points to a catastrophic missed opportunity that could have prevented Epstein's abuse network from operating for decades, affecting countless more individuals.
A Continued Fight for Full Transparency
The survivors' public condemnation came during a press conference on 18 November 2025 regarding the Epstein Files Transparency Act. They were joined by supporters including Sky Roberts, the brother of Epstein's late victim Virginia Giuffre.
The core issue remains the Department of Justice's compliance with the law. Survivors and their advocates insist that only a complete, unredacted release of all documents related to the Epstein case will suffice. They argue that continued obfuscation protects the powerful and denies victims the full account of the crimes committed against them, delaying the possibility of true accountability and healing.
The battle, as Stein noted, has crossed political lines and persisted for years. The latest document dump, far from providing resolution, has only reinforced survivors' determination to see every piece of evidence brought into the light.
