‘Justice Felt Impossible': Survivor Says She Was Abused By Epstein In House Arrest

Last Updated:May 13, 2026, 22:33 IST

Survivor Roza alleges Epstein raped her for years while on house arrest, criticizes the US Department of Justice, as Democrats hold an unofficial hearing in West Palm Beach.

A survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse has publicly alleged for the first time that the late financier sexually assaulted her repeatedly while he was serving house arrest after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

The woman, identified only as Roza, gave emotional testimony during an unofficial hearing organised by Democratic members of the US House Oversight Committee in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Roza said she was recruited from Uzbekistan as a teenager by Jean-Luc Brunel — Epstein’s associate and a modelling agent — after being promised a glamorous modelling career in the United States.

“Coming from a financially unstable background I was a perfect target for coercion," she told lawmakers during the hearing.

‘He Offered To Help Me’

According to Roza, she met Brunel in 2008 before travelling to New York on a visa in 2009.

She said Brunel later introduced her to Jeffrey Epstein at his home in West Palm Beach in July 2009 — while Epstein was already under house arrest following his conviction.

Roza alleged that Epstein offered her work through his Florida Science Foundation to help with her financial difficulties.

“One day his masseuse called me into his room where I was molested for the first time by Jeffrey," she said.

“For the following three years I was subject to ongoing rape."

Hearing Held Near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago

The hearing was organised by Democratic lawmakers led by Congressman Robert Garcia, who said the session was held in West Palm Beach because it was where Epstein’s crimes first became public.

Garcia also noted the hearing took place near US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.

While the hearing carried no legal authority, lawmakers said it aimed to keep attention on the Epstein case and examine how powerful figures avoided accountability for years.

‘Justice Felt Impossible’

Roza said Epstein’s ability to continue abusing women while under house arrest made justice “feel impossible."

She also accused the US Department of Justice of retraumatising victims after her identity was allegedly exposed in recently released Epstein files because of flawed redactions.

“Now reporters from across the globe contact me. I cannot live without looking over my shoulder," she said.

The Justice Department has acknowledged that some victims’ identities were accidentally exposed due to “technical or human error" and said the files were later removed.

Another Survivor Speaks Out

Another Epstein accuser, Maria Farmer, also addressed the hearing through a recorded message.

Farmer said she first reported Epstein’s abuse to authorities in 1996 but alleged that law enforcement repeatedly failed to act.

“The government needs to start telling the truth," she said.

Epstein’s Death And Plea Deal

Jeffrey Epstein died in a New York prison cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

His 2008 plea agreement — widely criticised for being overly lenient — allowed him to serve house arrest with permission to leave custody for extended periods during the day.

A recent Democratic committee report argued the controversial deal enabled Epstein to continue abusing and trafficking women for nearly another decade.

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