The Government Promised Justice in the Epstein case. What We Got Was Betrayal Trauma.

How Maxwell's limited immunity deal sickens Epstein survivors

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Betrayal Trauma.

It’s a phrase I hadn’t heard until this week. One of Jeffrey Epstein’s survivors, Marijke Chartouni, taught it to me. A clinical term for the psychological damage that occurs when someone you rely on for safety or survival violates your trust. It captures the heartbreak and disorientation these girls felt when they first encountered Ghislaine Maxwell — and the pain they’re feeling again now, as the administration that once promised them justice considers exonerating her.

“It makes me sick,” Chartouni texted me as soon as the news broke.

“It’s very backhanded. Why don’t they go to the survivors? Why is she being called the Rosetta Stone? The victims know everything too. They were eyewitnesses.”

There she was: a posh woman in Ralph Lauren, Yorkshire terrier in tow, cruising Central Park and Palm Beach in luxury cars, striking up conversations with teenage girls. She’d say: You’re beautiful. You’re special. I’m a modeling scout. I can make your dreams come true.

Before she made her daily rounds — hunting for at least three girls to satisfy Epstein’s round-the-clock appetite for orgasms — she’d shout, “I’ve got to get the nubiles!” That’s what survivor Maria Farmer remembered.

But the girls never would have stepped foot inside Epstein’s homes if it weren’t for the beguiling woman with the British accent who lured them in.

And now, this week, my phone has been lighting up with frantic messages from those same survivors. Ghislaine Maxwell — a convicted felon and perjurer — has reportedly been granted limited immunity to speak with Todd Blanche, the second most powerful official at the Justice Department.

I don’t think I can say this enough: This criminal enterprise would not have existed without Ghislaine Maxwell.

Years ago, I wrote about her for POLITICO Magazine in a piece called The Women Who Enabled Jeffrey Epstein, back when few seemed to still care about the case. As you’ll see, her role wasn’t accessory — it was operational.

What still surprises me is how many times these survivors have been willing to retell their stories, despite being repeatedly let down by the system.

Maria and Annie Farmer first came forward in 1996, alerting the FBI that two adults — Ghislaine and Jeffrey — had sexually abused them. Nothing happened. In 2006, they cooperated again. Epstein walked away with a sweetheart deal: just over a year in county jail, work release, and an ankle monitor.

And yet, in 2021, Annie stood up once more to testify at Maxwell’s trial. It was a shred of justice — hard won. And now, she fears it’s slipping away again.

“Coming forward is exhausting,” she told me. “The trial takes over your life. But I did it because I knew so many people were harmed. And I wanted to do the right thing — for them.”

This story is exhausting to tell — but it’s also unfinished.

When I left network news in 2019, I didn’t know what was next. The Epstein story wasn’t something I sought out — the opportunity was presented to me. It wasn’t until after a long solo hike in Joshua Tree and later some time looking at the stars seeking answers that I realized: this was the story I needed to tell. Even if it was dark. Even if it wasn’t safe.

🔐 This part of the story — the behind-the-scenes reporting, the personal reckoning, and what comes next — is for paid subscribers. Thank you for supporting this work.