Jeffrey Epstein: 12 women sue FBI over failure to protect them from paedophile's abuse

The 12 alleged victims stated in a complaint filed on Wednesday that Jeffrey Epstein was able to continue his sex trafficking enterprise for over 20 years due to the FBI's "repeated and continued failures, delays and inaction."

The case, brought against the United States in the Southern District of New York, claimed that the 12 alleged victims—who are not identified in the lawsuit—were sexually abused for years as a result of the FBI's incompetence, according to CNN.

“For over two decades, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (hereinafter 'FBI') permitted Jeffrey Epstein to sex traffic and sexually abuse scores of children and young women by failing to do the job the American people expected of it and that the FBI’s own rules and regulations required: investigate the reports, tips, and evidence it had of rampant sexual abuse and sex trafficking by Epstein and protect the young women and children who fell victim to him,” the lawsuit read.

Unspecified damages in an amount to be established at trial are what the accused victims are requesting. Additionally, the lawsuit stated that although the FBI's records about Epstein are still mainly sealed, they are in favour of them being released unredacted.

“The filing of this lawsuit is the first step to getting to the bottom of what we have recently learned – that for years the FBI negligently failed to act on clear evidence that Jeffrey Epstein was operating a vast sex abuse operation and sex trafficking ring, as alleged,” Jennifer Plotkin and Nathan Werksman, attorneys for the Jane Does, said in a written statement. “That failure resulted in incalculable harm to our clients.”

Before he could go on trial for federal sex trafficking charges, Epstein, a paedophile with a conviction, passed away in custody.

When contacted for comment, the FBI stated that it doesn't discuss legal matters. However, CNN has requested a statement from the Department of Justice.