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The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, alleges that the FBI overlooked Epstein's notorious predilection for teenage girls, a fact well-known in the affluent circles of Palm Beach, Florida, and Manhattan's Upper East Side. The plaintiffs contend that Epstein masterminded an illicit sex trafficking ring catering to the elite, and the FBI failed to conduct a thorough investigation into the abuse, despite credible reports and tips.

The lawsuit states, "Epstein orchestrated an illegal sex trafficking ring for the elite and the FBI failed to adequately investigate the abuse, failed to interview the victims, failed to investigate the crimes and did not follow routine procedure or offer victim assistance notwithstanding credible reports and tips."

The plaintiffs argue that they fell victim to Epstein and his unnamed "co-conspirators" due to the FBI's alleged past failures. They further claim that the current FBI Director, Christopher Wray, has taken no action to rectify these past mistakes, despite a request from Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn in a December 2023 hearing.

The lawsuit alleges that Epstein and his accomplices abused young women and underage girls from 1996 until Epstein's death in 2019. Drawing on police documents, the lawsuit claims that Epstein lured girls aged between 14 and 16, as well as students from Palm Beach Community College, into "sex-tinged sessions." The identities of Epstein's clientele remain undisclosed, although a federal judge presiding over a separate lawsuit permitted the unsealing of allegations against several affluent individuals within Epstein's circle last month. These individuals include business leaders, high-profile politicians, and Ivy League academics.

February 16, 2024

The lawsuit also alleges that Epstein used threats of violence to deter his victims from speaking out. "Epstein said things like, Youre going to die; I'm going to break your legs,'" according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit further claims that allegations of child sex trafficking surfaced as early as 1996 when Epstein accuser Maria Farmer reported to New York City police and the FBI that she and her sister had been victims of Epstein and his former lover, Ghislaine Maxwell. However, the lawsuit alleges that the FBI dismissed her claims and failed to investigate.

The lawsuit also highlights Epstein's arrest in 2005 for engaging in sexual activities with a child prostitute and the subsequent alert from his bank, JP Morgan Chase, to the government about "suspicious transactions." Yet, this information remained undisclosed for nearly two decades.

The plaintiffs' attorneys also criticize the prolonged delay before Epstein's prosecution and the lenient plea deal he negotiated with the Justice Department in 2008. "Epstein served 13 months in jail, during which time he was allowed to leave for work release during the day," the lawsuit reads. "He continued to sexually abuse victims during his work release in close proximity to those who were supposed to be monitoring him."

The lawsuit further alleges that the FBI's "repeated and continued failures, delays, and inaction" enabled Epstein and others to perpetuate their sex trafficking conspiracy for almost 25 years.

Two more Jane Does are expected to join the lawsuit. The plaintiffs have chosen to use pseudonyms to protect their identities due to the risk of retaliatory harm from Epstein's wealthy and powerful co-conspirators.

An FBI spokesperson declined to comment on the pending litigation.

Epstein died in a federal jail cell in New York in 2019 while awaiting trial on additional sex-trafficking charges. His death was officially ruled a suicide, but his family and some experts dispute this conclusion.

Separately, Senator Blackburn, a Republican, has demanded the FBI release unredacted records of Epstein's flight logs, "black book," and other evidence from his estate. However, Illinois Democratic Senator Dick Durbin has obstructed her efforts for a congressional subpoena.