The FBI recently settled with over a hundred victims of Dr. Larry Nassar for $139 million, setting a precedent that could benefit Jeffrey Epstein’s accusers. Legal experts believe that the settlement could improve the chances of Epstein’s accusers prevailing in a similar lawsuit, as it is not easy to hold the government accountable for its failure to act. The settlement with the Nassar victims is significant, as civil liability against government agencies usually requires an affirmative act, such as police brutality or civil rights violations.
The Justice Department’s settlement with Nassar’s victims over the mishandling of sexual assault allegations has raised hope among Epstein’s accusers. Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani believes that the victims of Epstein could follow the same playbook used by Nassar’s victims to seek damages from the government. Another example that could benefit Epstein’s accusers is the Justice Department’s $127.5 million settlement in lawsuits related to the 2018 Parkland, Florida school shooting, demonstrating the potential for government accountability in such cases.
While there are similarities between the Nassar and Epstein cases regarding how the FBI handled the allegations, there are also key differences that need to be considered. Nassar was convicted of his crimes, while Epstein died before going to trial, with only Ghislaine Maxwell being criminally convicted. Despite numerous lawsuits against powerful men in Epstein’s orbit, only Maxwell has faced criminal charges, and she is currently appealing. The Epstein case involved failures from federal prosecutors who handled his sex trafficking charges in 2008.
Several current and former athletes, including Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, and Maggie Nichols, testified at a Senate hearing in 2021 that the FBI failed to act on their complaints against Nassar. In February, a lawsuit was filed against the U.S. government on behalf of a dozen Jane Does, alleging that the FBI failed to investigate Epstein’s sex-trafficking crimes as far back as the 1990s. The lawsuit claims that the FBI did not properly investigate the abuse, interview the victims, or follow standard procedures despite receiving credible reports and tips.
Allegations of child sex trafficking involving Epstein emerged as early as 1996, with multiple reports being made to the FBI that were allegedly ignored. Even Epstein’s bank, JPMorgan Chase, raised concerns about suspicious transactions related to his activities. The lawsuit filed on behalf of the Jane Does alleges that the FBI’s repeated failures and inaction allowed Epstein to continue his sex trafficking conspiracy for almost 25 years. Despite settling with the Nassar victims, the FBI has not accepted responsibility for the sexual abuse survivors of Epstein, according to lawyers representing his accusers.
Jeffrey Epstein died in a federal jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on additional sex-trafficking charges, with his death officially ruled a suicide. However, his family and some experts have raised doubts regarding the circumstances of his death. The lawsuit filed by Epstein’s accusers initially represented a dozen women but now includes 30 women being represented by the same firm. The FBI has a policy of not commenting on pending litigation, making it difficult to gauge their stance on these claims.
