The US Justice Department’s partial release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein has confirmed that one of the earliest criminal complaints against the disgraced financier was filed in 1996 by survivor and artist Maria Farmer, according to a report by CNN.

An FBI document made public on Friday describes a 1996 criminal complaint involving child pornography allegations against Epstein. While the complainant’s name is redacted, Farmer’s lawyer, Jennifer Freeman, confirmed to CNN that the complaint was filed by her client.

According to the document’s “facts of complaint,” the woman, identified as a professional artist, had taken photographs of her underage sisters for personal artwork.

The document states that Epstein allegedly stole the photos and negatives and is believed to have sold them to potential buyers. It further alleges that Epstein requested permission to photograph young girls at swimming pools and threatened the complainant with arson if she disclosed the matter.

CNN reported that the document is stamped September 3, 1996, underscoring that Epstein had been known to law enforcement years before federal and state charges were eventually brought against him in New York and Florida.

Farmer’s lawyer said the document’s release was a moment of vindication but also raised serious questions about law enforcement’s response.

Freeman said that she was searching for records showing what authorities did after receiving the complaint, and why no action was taken at the time.

“What authorities did in response to the complaint is unclear,” the media outlet said, adding that it had reached out to the FBI for comment.

While Farmer’s case marked a rare moment of confirmation for a survivor, CNN reported widespread frustration among other Epstein survivors attempting to navigate the Justice Department’s newly launched online “Epstein Library.”

Multiple sources close to survivors said that the search system was difficult to use and yielded little information, validating their past complaints, despite the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act and a 30-day wait for access.

Epstein survivor Jess Michaels said she spent hours trying to locate her victim statement and records of her communications with the FBI tip line, but found nothing.

“Is this the best that the government can do?” Michaels said. “Even an act of Congress isn’t getting us justice.”

In a statement provided through her lawyers, Maria Farmer said the FBI had “failed” her and other victims over the years.

Her sister, Annie Farmer, has previously said she was 16 when Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell abused her. Speaking emotionally to CNN’s Jake Tapper, Annie Farmer said seeing the complaint in writing was deeply painful.

“To know that they had this document this entire time — and how many people were harmed after that date?” she said, adding that the confirmation was overwhelming.

Annie Farmer later became the fourth and final Epstein accuser to testify at Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking trial.