Senator Demands Todd Blanche Meets Epstein Survivors for Nomination Support

Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina has set a condition for supporting Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general. During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, he required Blanche to meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse. This meeting is pivotal for securing Tillis’s vote, crucial for advancing Blanche’s nomination.

The stipulation was made after months of survivors seeking to meet Blanche, now acting attorney general. Tillis, planning to retire next year, has previously shown support for Blanche’s nomination but introduced the new condition on Thursday, which complicates matters for the current administration. The Epstein case remains a challenging topic politically.

If all Democrats on the Judiciary Committee oppose Blanche, just one Republican ‘no’ can endanger his nomination. Tillis has hinted at withholding support in the past but often refrained from final opposition, favoring the administration’s decisions.

During Wednesday’s hearing, questions about Blanche’s handling of the Epstein case were frequent. Blanche did not commit to meeting survivors directly, suggesting it would need to happen with their lawyer present. He mentioned having an aide available to meet instead.

Tillis emphasized the importance of Blanche meeting the survivors directly before proceeding with a vote. He stated, “I expect that meeting to occur before I’m willing to vote out of the committee,” and noted the Senate schedule gives Blanche about two weeks for this meeting.

The senator expressed a willingness to support Blanche’s nomination but stressed this condition is crucial. “This is a very important part of getting to yes. There should not be any reason” for Blanche not to meet with Epstein’s survivors, Tillis remarked.

During the previous day’s hearing, senators questioned Blanche about his decision to interview Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted co-conspirator. This interview preceded her transfer to a more lenient prison, a move that reportedly contradicts standard policy. Federal prison experts highlighted this transfer as violating established practices.

Reporting contributions were made by Karoun Demirjian, while Devlin Barrett, who covers the Justice Department and the F.B.I., added further insights.