A survivor of Jeffrey Epstein broke down in tears on Tuesday, May 12, as she told lawmakers how the Justice Department exposed her full name more than 500 times in newly released files, stripping away the anonymity she had guarded for years while powerful figures stayed shielded.
Roza, who had been known publicly only as Jane Doe after she reported her abuse to the FBI in 2009, testified at a House Oversight Committee Democrats field hearing in West Palm Beach.
Roza’s Name Mentioned Over 500 Times
She described waking up one day to find her real identity scattered across the massive document dump required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
“I kept my identity protected as Jane Doe,” she said, her voice cracking. “I woke up one day with my name mentioned over 500 times.
“While the rich and powerful remain protected by redactions, my name was exposed to the world. Now reporters from across the world contact me. I cannot live without looking over my shoulder.”
Her emotional testimony came during a day of raw accounts from several Epstein survivors. The hearing took place just miles from Epstein’s former Palm Beach mansion, where much of the abuse occurred.
Democrats on the committee organized the session to examine the 2008 plea deal that let Epstein serve minimal time and continue his crimes, as well as the government’s recent handling of his files.
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Roza, originally from Uzbekistan, said she was 18 when modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel recruited her. She arrived in the U.S. with promises of a big career but quickly fell into debt to the agency.
Epstein offered her a job at his science foundation to help pay it off. That introduction led to years of rape and control, including abuse that continued while Epstein was supposed to be under house arrest in Palm Beach in 2009.
“You need to figure it out, and I hope you do,” she told the lawmakers. “I hope this never happens again to anybody.”
Goal of the Epstein Files Transparency Act
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law in late 2025, forced the release of millions of pages of documents.
The goal was transparency, but critics say it made new victims. The Justice Department has acknowledged redaction mistakes that exposed the names of dozens of survivors. In Roza’s case, there were mistakes everywhere.
Attorneys for survivors have complained that the government botched the process. Some files named victims who had never spoken publicly.
Others left high-profile associates and clients heavily redacted or untouched. Roza said the fallout turned her life upside down again. Global media reached out. Her privacy was gone.
As she testified, other survivors sat with her in viral videos, offering support when tears flowed. Others, including Dani Hannah Bensky, comforted her. A quiet tension filled the room at West Palm Beach City Hall as she spoke.
Lawmakers heard similar stories throughout the day as survivors detailed how Epstein’s network lured them in with modeling gigs, fake job offers, and promises of a better life.
Many described feeling powerless in the face of his money and connections. Several criticized the 2008 plea deal cut by then-U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta, which allowed Epstein to serve a work release and reoffend.
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Roza’s decision to speak on the condition of her first name only demonstrates how fragile her sense of safety is. Even at the hearing, she had to hide her full identity for her safety. Yet the files had already done the damage.
Public Outrage
The releases have sparked bipartisan outrage, with some members of both parties demanding better management of victim information and fuller disclosure of the names that matter most.
The DOJ has said it worked to protect privacy but admitted errors in the massive project, which included over 3.5 million pages.
The field hearing lacks subpoena power and was organized by the minority party. Still, organizers said it was important to put survivors’ voices on the record as Congress continues to press for answers about Epstein’s operation and the government’s failures.
