With a soft pastel in hand, Maria Farmer sketched out a portrait of a young woman. All have one thing in common: they have survived horrific and traumatic experiences, allegedly at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein. “I absolutely stopped painting because of Epstein,” Farmer said.
With a soft pastel in hand, Maria Farmer sketched out a portrait of a young woman. It’s one of seven she created so far as part of a series, each showcasing a different woman drawn on a brightly colored background.
The drag of the pastel across the canvas, the fluid motions she used to shape the eyes, the hair, the face -- these are familiar strokes to Farmer, who used to find great inspiration and passion in her art. But only recently has she been able to stand at an easel again. “I'm going be a blank of sheet of paper in mine,” she said. “I am just a blank sheet of paper, according to the U.S. government and the FBI, and I have felt like a blank sheet of paper for 24 years … I feel invisible.”
Farmer said she was introduced to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite who was an associate of Epstein, at an art show that was put on by the New York Academy of Art. She said she was told they were important art patrons. Story continuesAfter that first encounter, Farmer said Epstein hired her to collect art for him, which at the time sounded like a great opportunity.
“He said, ‘Do you see that? Like, well, we're going to be able to watch you right here. There's a pinhole camera. Oh. There's another one.’ And I thought that was odd. Why are you pointing them out to me?” Farmer said. “I said, ‘Well, where does all this go?’ And he said, ‘Well, it's right there. Let me take you in the room.’"
Farmer said there were other things that seemed to be off about Epstein, like the fact that she said he never seemed work and he told her he got “at least three massages a day.” MORE: Alleged Epstein victims recount powerful emotions after witnessing financier’s New York arraignment “I knew I was in trouble,” Farmer said. “I've never rubbed my boss's feet … So I'm like, ‘I don't think I'm very good at this.’ And he goes, ‘Sit right here … And I thought, ‘Oh god.’”
Farmer said she barricaded herself in her room and called the police but she said they didn’t respond. The New Albany Police Department told ABC News it doesn’t retain 911 records going back to the 1990s, and attempts to find records at other local departments were unsuccessful. On Aug. 26, 1996, Farmer said she told the New York City Police Department about the alleged sexual assault, but Farmer said she was told the NYPD couldn't do anything because the alleged incident had occurred out of state. She said the NYPD referred her to the FBI, but they did take a report from her about Epstein concerning her artwork. Farmer said she called the FBI later that same day, but nothing happened.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Video From Jeffrey Epstein’s First Suicide Try Destroyed, Feds AdmitIn the latest screw up in Jeffrey Epstein’s death case, federal officials revealed Thursday that video of the cell where the pedophile reportedly made his first suicide attempt was accidentally destroyed.The surveillance footage was requested by Epstein’s cellmate, accused killer ex-cop Nicholas Tartaglione
Read more »
Jeffrey Epstein survivors on coming to terms with what happened to them in Palm Beach: 'I had blamed myself for all these years'“His face was enough to terrify me for the rest of my life.” Michelle Licata was one of several women who opened up to ABC News about their traumatic experiences with Jeffrey Epstein and coming to terms with what happened in Palm Beach.
Read more »
'Surviving R. Kelly' Follow-Up Leads To Spike In Calls To Sexual Assault HotlineLifetime partnered with RAINN to show the hotline number on-screen to encourage sexual assault survivors and their loved ones to seek help.
Read more »
Photos Emerge of Bill Clinton Aboard Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘Lolita Express’Newly published photos show Bill Clinton on Jeffrey Epstein’s private jet, alongside Ghislaine Maxwell and one of the late financier’s accusers
Read more »
Photos Emerge of Bill Clinton Aboard Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘Lolita Express’The most notable pictures show Bill Clinton with Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s one-time girlfriend who has been accused of recruiting girls for him to sexually abuse
Read more »
'Underwater': Film ReviewKristen Stewart and Vincent Cassel play survivors of an endangered deep-sea drilling crew in William Eubank's monster movie.
Read more »