Highlights:
- FBI interview notes describe Epstein directing the recruitment of underage girls
- Documents reference specific age and racial preferences
- Files are part of a limited, heavily redacted DOJ release
- Notes align with prior testimony from Epstein victims
- Renewed scrutiny falls on Epstein’s associates and federal transparency
Newly released Justice Department records include disturbing FBI interview notes that provide additional detail about Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged demands and behavior as he orchestrated the sexual exploitation of underage girls, according to documents made public Friday.
The materials are part of a long-anticipated release from the Department of Justice that critics say is incomplete and excessively redacted. Still, one document stands out: a 13-page set of handwritten FBI investigative notes dated May 2, 2019, attached to a formal evidence cover sheet labeled EFTA00004179.
The interview subject’s identity is redacted, as are several names and passages, but the notes describe what investigators recorded as firsthand observations of Epstein’s recruitment practices. According to the document, Epstein relied on intermediaries to bring young women and girls to him, often under the pretense of providing massages. The notes indicate that, during periods when recruiters were “running out of girls,” there was urgency to find new victims.
The interview notes suggest Epstein expressed explicit preferences related to the age and appearance of the girls being brought to him. In one instance, the witness recounted Epstein rejecting a girl based on her background, instructing the intermediary to continue searching for girls who met his expectations. The notes also indicate Epstein questioned the ages of some girls and demanded identification, allegedly because he wanted assurances they were under 18.
While much of the content is heavily redacted, the notes reference encounters taking place in multiple New York locations, including a Manhattan apartment, as well as areas in Rochester and Brighton Beach. Investigators also logged references to photographs of girls estimated to be between 14 and 17 years old, including images taken in public settings such as beaches and social events.
The documents do not clearly identify the witness, but the descriptions align with well-documented aspects of Epstein’s criminal case and survivor accounts. Epstein, a wealthy financier with powerful connections, was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. He died by suicide in a New York jail the following month while awaiting trial.
The newly released notes also echo testimony from victims such as Marina Lacerda, a Brazilian immigrant identified in court filings as a minor victim. Lacerda has publicly described being abused by Epstein beginning at age 14 and has said she encountered prominent figures in Epstein’s orbit during that time. Her cooperation was central to the federal investigation that led to Epstein’s indictment.
Attention has also returned to Epstein’s associates, including Jean-Luc Brunel, a modeling agent accused by authorities of supplying girls to Epstein. Brunel was arrested in France in 2022 on charges related to trafficking and sexual assault of minors and later died by suicide in custody.
Lawmakers and victim advocates continue to press the Justice Department for the full release of Epstein-related files, arguing that transparency is essential to accountability. Friday’s disclosure, while limited, adds to the public record detailing how Epstein allegedly operated and how long his abuse persisted.
