Epstein victim Roza left traumatized by DOJ 'mistake'

An Epstein survivor said she had been retraumatised after her name was accidentally published in the Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice, "while the rich and powerful remained protected by redaction".

Roza, who was recruited from Uzbekistan as a teenager by Epstein's associate and modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, spoke publicly for the first time alongside a number of victims in a field hearing that was organised by House Democrats.

"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."

The DOJ has previously said it "takes victim protection very seriously", and that it had removed from its website a number of Epstein-related files after victims said their identities had been compromised as a result of flawed redactions within the material. The DOJ said mistakes had been due to "technical or human error".

She told the session that she was introduced to Epstein by Brunel in July 2009, was offered work by Epstein "to help me with my financial troubles", and he later subjected her to rape over a period of three years.

Roza, whose first name was only given in the hearing, said she was 18 when she met the late Brunel in 2008 and "promised a modelling career beyond my dreams".

"Coming from a financially unstable background I was a perfect target for coercion," she added, during the tearful testimony.

By May 2009, she was in New York City on a visa, and in July she met Epstein at his house in West Palm Beach while he was under house arrest, Roza said.

Epstein then offered her a role at his Florida Science Foundation - where he had worked during an initial arrangement that allowed him to leave custody for up to 16 hours a day, six days a week, following his 2008 conviction.

"One day his masseuse called me into his room where I was molested for the first time by Jeffrey," Roza told the hearing. "For the following three years I was subject to ongoing rape."

Epstein died in a New York prison cell on 10 August 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges.