Key senator demands Blanche meet with Epstein survivors

Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and family members of Epstein victims embrace after the second day of the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in Washington, on Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

By DEVLIN BARRETT

A Republican lawmaker whose vote will be crucial in advancing Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general demanded that the nominee meet with survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse to win his support.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., made the stipulation during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday for witnesses to discuss Blanche’s nomination. For months, a group of Epstein survivors have tried unsuccessfully to meet with Blanche, who is now serving as the acting attorney general.

Tillis, who is retiring next year, has spoken favorably about Blanche’s nomination, including on Wednesday, when Blanche appeared before the committee. But Thursday, Tillis laid out a new condition related to the Epstein case, which has become a political albatross for both President Donald Trump and the Justice Department leadership, including Blanche.

If Democrats on the Judiciary Committee all vote against Blanche, a single Republican “no” could sink his nomination. Tillis has made similar threats before, including privately signaling he would withhold his support for the incoming defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, but he has frequently dropped his resistance on the Senate floor, appearing loath to challenge the Trump administration when it comes to casting his final vote.

During the hearing Wednesday, in which Blanche’s handling of the Epstein case was a frequent topic of questioning, Blanche was noncommittal about whether he would meet with Epstein survivors. He said he could not do so without their lawyer present, and added that he had an aide who could meet with them instead.

Tillis made clear a day later that he thought Blanche should sit down face-to-face with the survivors.

“I expect that meeting to occur before I’m willing to vote out of the committee,” Tillis said, noting that the Senate schedule gives Blanche roughly two weeks to have such a meeting before the panel votes.

The senator said he was “trying to get to yes” on Blanche’s nomination. He added, “But this is a very important part of getting to yes. There should not be any reason” Blanche cannot meet with survivors of Epstein’s abuse, he said.

Senators repeatedly pressed Blanche on Wednesday over Epstein, particularly Blanche’s decision to spend two days interviewing Epstein’s convicted co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, after which she was transferred to a more lenient prison camp. Federal prison veterans have said that such a transfer violates agency policy and long-standing practice.