Epstein survivor breaks into tears amid testimony in scathing takedown of DOJ conduct

A House Oversight Committee hearing turned emotional Tuesday after a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein issued a blistering rebuke of the Justice Department (DOJ), which months earlier had publicly named her in its release of Epstein-related files “over 500 times,” permanently exposing her identity to the world.

The survivor identified herself only as “Roza” to avoid further public disclosure of her name, and despite the DOJ having already failed to properly redact victim-identifying information – including hers, she claimed – in records released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

“I kept my identity protected as Jane Doe. I woke up one day with my name mentioned over 500 times!” Roza said, her hand clutching her face as she held back tears.

“While the rich and powerful remain protected by redactions, my name was exposed to the world. Now reporters from across the globe contact me, I cannot live without looking over my shoulder! I can only imagine the long-term impact this mistake will have on my life.”

Roza said she had just turned 18 in 2008 when she first met Jean Luc-Brunel, a French model scout and founder of MC2 Model Management, a modeling agency formed with considerable financial backing from Epstein. Luc-Brunel, who died by apparent suicide in 2022 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, recruited Roza as a model, she said, and helped her immigrate to the United States.

Also in 2008, Epstein faced his first criminal conviction and pleaded guilty to one count of child abuse, and despite the FBI having identified at least 40 potential minor victims in his case. He was given a generous plea deal that allowed him to leave prison on work release for up to 12 hours a day.

It was when Epstein was serving his 18-month sentence when Roza was first introduced to Epstein at his home in West Palm Beach, Florida. It was also then, Roza said, that the sexual abuse began.

“Jeffrey Epstein was under house arrest for the molestation of underage girls at the exact time he was abusing me,” Roza said.

Roza returned to condemning the DOJ for its botched handling of its release of Epstein-related files, describing the oversight not as a “mistake,” but as a “choice.”

“Releasing my name while redacting the names of other powerful [figures] is not a mistake, it's a choice, it's a choice to prioritize the comfort of institution over the safety of the survivors,” Roza said.

“The evidence is right here, yet those in power rather us die socially, emotionally and physically than admit their own complicity. I am no longer Jane Doe hidden in the files, I'm a woman, I'm a fighter, I'm a witness, and I'm begging you: please, wash your hands!”

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, thanked Roza for her testimony, and called her story a “really horrific example” of how the DOJ had made survivors suffer "re-traumatization."