Epstein Victim Testifies Before Democratic Lawmakers About Abuse in 2009 During His House Arrest

Roza gave testimony to Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday, describing how Jeffrey Epstein sexually abused her while he was under house arrest following his 2008 conviction. The unofficial hearing took place in West Palm Beach, Florida. Democratic lawmaker Robert Garcia said it was held because the city was where Jeffrey Epstein's crimes first came to light.

U.S. President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. U.S. House Oversight Committee and local Democratic members.

The committee has a Republican majority and is currently investigating Jeffrey Epstein's crimes. Democratic members have focused on scrutinising the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files. The hearing carries no legal authority.

A report published by Democratic oversight committee members on Tuesday found that a controversial plea deal negotiated by Epstein's lawyer in 2008 enabled him to continue his abuse and trafficking activities for almost another decade. Roza was recruited from Uzbekistan as a teenager by Jean-Luc Brunel. She met Jean-Luc Brunel in 2008 when she was 18 years old.

Jean-Luc Brunel promised Roza a modelling career. "Coming from a financially unstable background I was a perfect target for coercion," Roza said during her tearful testimony. She was introduced to Jeffrey Epstein by Jean-Luc Brunel in July 2009.

Roza met Jeffrey Epstein at his house in West Palm Beach, Florida. Jeffrey Epstein's 2008 conviction allowed him to leave custody for up to 16 hours a day, six days a week.

Jeffrey Epstein's 2008 conviction was for soliciting prostitution from a minor and he was registered as a sex offender following that conviction. Jeffrey Epstein offered Roza a role at his Florida Science Foundation. "One day his masseuse called me into his room where I was molested for the first time by Jeffrey," Roza told the hearing.

Roza said the abuse perpetrated by Epstein while he was under house arrest "made justice feel impossible", but she "eventually found the courage to reach out for help". She said she had been retraumatised after her name was accidentally published in the Epstein files released by the Department of Justice. "While the rich and powerful remained protected by redaction," Roza added.

"Now reporters from across the globe contact me. I cannot live without looking over my shoulder. " The DOJ removed from its website a number of Epstein-related files after victims said their identities had been compromised.

The DOJ said mistakes had been due to technical or human error. Maria Farmer gave evidence to the lawmakers in a recorded message. Maria Farmer first reported Jeffrey Epstein's abuse in 1996. "The government needs to start telling the truth," she said.

Jeffrey Epstein died in a New York prison cell on 10 August 2019. He was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges when he died. BBC News reported these details from the hearing and accompanying report.