Testimony on the Sexual Abuse of a Foreign National by Jeffrey Epstein
Introduction
A survivor of Jeffrey Epstein, known as Roza, gave testimony to the US House Oversight Committee in West Palm Beach, Florida. She described the sexual violence she suffered while Epstein was under house arrest.
Main Body
The witness, who is from Uzbekistan, testified that she came to the United States in May 2009. She was brought over by Jean-Luc Brunel on a talent visa after being promised a career in professional modeling. After arriving, she was sent to Epstein's home in West Palm Beach. Roza asserted that she was repeatedly raped between July 2009 and July 2010. This happened while Epstein was under house arrest following a 2008 conviction. Furthermore, she noted that Epstein helped her get a job at the Florida Science Foundation, which allowed him to leave his home for sixteen hours a day, six days a week. He controlled her by threatening her visa status and her future career. During the hearing, committee members criticized the 2008 legal agreement, which some Democrats called a 'sweetheart' deal. They argued that this agreement allowed Epstein to avoid federal sex trafficking charges and continue his crimes. Additionally, the witness complained that the Department of Justice published her identity in files that were not properly hidden. While the Department of Justice claimed these were technical errors, the witness argued that the government intentionally protected the identities of Epstein's accomplices. Although the hearing had no formal legal power, it allowed lawmakers to examine how the government failed to protect victims.
Conclusion
The testimony ended with a call for major changes to the justice system and an acknowledgment of the psychological trauma caused by the government's failure to protect her identity.
Learning
⚡ The 'Sophistication Leap': Moving Beyond 'Say'
At the A2 level, students rely heavily on the word "said". To reach B2, you must replace these generic verbs with Reporting Verbs that explain the intent of the speaker. This transforms a simple sentence into a nuanced academic or professional statement.
Look at the shift in this text:
- A2 Style: She said she was raped. B2 Style: Roza asserted that she was repeatedly raped.
- A2 Style: She said the government did it on purpose. B2 Style: The witness argued that the government intentionally protected accomplices.
- A2 Style: She said the files were not hidden. B2 Style: The witness complained that the Department of Justice published her identity.
🛠️ The Logic of the Upgrade
| A2 Word | B2 Upgrade | When to use it? |
|---|---|---|
| Said | Asserted | When someone speaks with strong confidence and certainty. |
| Said | Argued | When someone provides a reason or logic to prove a point. |
| Said | Complained | When someone expresses dissatisfaction or pain. |
| Said | Claimed | When someone says something is true, but others might doubt it. |
🧩 Structural Secret: The 'Passive' Shift
Notice this sentence: "She was brought over by Jean-Luc Brunel..."
An A2 student usually writes: "Jean-Luc Brunel brought her over."
Why is the B2 version better?
In professional or legal contexts, the person receiving the action (the victim or the subject) is more important than the person doing the action. By using the Passive Voice (was + past participle), you shift the focus to the survivor, making the writing feel more objective and formal.