Kathmandu— Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy magazine, repeatedly contacted the FBI on behalf of a model who claimed she was raped and trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein, according to a lawsuit against the US government. The FBI did not reach out to the alleged victim, Audra Lynn Christiansen, until 2020 – a year after Epstein’s death in custody – despite Hefner's repeated attempts to alert them to the allegations beginning in 2005. Christiansen also alleges she was trafficked to Macau casino billionaire Stanley Ho.

Victim Seeks Assistance

Former Playmate Audra Lynn Christiansen approached Hugh Hefner in 2005, sharing details of alleged abuse by Jeffrey Epstein. Believing Hefner possessed law enforcement connections and “clout,” she requested his intervention with the authorities. Hefner subsequently made repeated calls to the FBI on her behalf, hoping to ensure her allegations would be taken seriously.

Delayed Investigation

Despite Hefner’s efforts, the FBI did not contact Christiansen regarding her claims until 2020. This delay occurred more than fifteen years after she initially reported the alleged abuse to Hefner and he contacted the agency. The lawsuit filed by 32 of Epstein's alleged victims highlights this significant lag in investigation.

Legal Challenges and Dismissal Attempts

The FBI recently sought to have the lawsuit dismissed, arguing it was not legally obligated to investigate every complaint received. Jordan Merson, an attorney representing the alleged victims, expressed concern over these attempts to avoid accountability for what he claims was a failure to properly investigate Epstein’s crimes for years. The case remains pending in court.

Epstein's History and Released Documents

Jeffrey Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors, but died by suicide while in custody less than a month later. He had previously pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor and served thirteen months as part of a controversial plea agreement with prosecutors. Earlier this year, the Justice Department released over three million pages of documents related to Epstein, naming more than 300 people – including Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, Mick Jagger, and Kevin Spacey – though appearing in the files does not indicate wrongdoing.

The lawsuit against the US government remains ongoing as plaintiffs seek accountability for the alleged delayed investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. The case highlights questions surrounding the handling of abuse allegations and the responsiveness of law enforcement.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.