Todd Blanche Confirmation Hearing Sparks Epstein Survivor Backlash
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faced a contentious Senate confirmation hearing on July 15, 2026, where he apologized for failing to redact Epstein victims' names in released documents. He backtracked on a promise to meet survivors, claiming legal prohibitions. Epstein survivor Dani Bensky testified against him, and 19 victims publicly opposed his nomination after reports revealed his role in White House meetings on Epstein file transparency.
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Epstein Survivors Launch Last-Ditch Attempt to Stop Todd Blanche Confirmation
A group of survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse are making a final push to block the confirmation of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. They launched the 'Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Bookmobile' on the National Mall, which will carry bound copies of 3.5 million government files across the country during the midterm elections. Survivors delivered printed copies of the files to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is set to vote on Blanche's confirmation. The survivors argue that Blanche has mishandled the Epstein case, including downplaying redaction errors that exposed survivors' names while concealing alleged perpetrators. Blanche's confirmation is also in jeopardy from two Republican senators who demand written assurance that Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' is dead.
Epstein Survivors Launch Last-Ditch Attempt to Stop Todd Blanche Confirmation
A group of survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse are going door-to-door on Capitol Hill to deliver government files to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urging them to reject acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's confirmation. The survivors launched the 'Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Bookmobile' at a press conference on the National Mall, which will carry bound copies of 3.5 million files across the country during the midterm elections. The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote on Blanche's confirmation on Thursday. Survivors criticized Blanche for downplaying redaction errors that exposed survivor names while concealing alleged perpetrators, and for a recent meeting with victims that 'did not go well.' Blanche's confirmation is also in jeopardy from two Republican senators who refuse to approve him unless he confirms the end of Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund.'
Epstein Survivors Launch Last-Ditch Attempt to Stop Todd Blanche Confirmation
A group of survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse are going door-to-door on Capitol Hill to deliver printed copies of government files to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The survivors launched the 'Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Bookmobile' at a press conference on the National Mall, which will carry bound copies of all 3.5 million files to communities across the country during the midterm elections. The effort is a final push to urge the committee to reject acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's confirmation, which is set for a vote on Thursday. Survivors criticize Blanche for downplaying redaction errors that exposed their names while concealing alleged perpetrators, and for a recent meeting with victims that 'did not go well.' Blanche's confirmation is already in jeopardy, with two Republican lawmakers refusing to approve him unless he confirms the end of Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund.'
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Two Republican Senators Threaten to Block Todd Blanche's Attorney General Nomination
Two outgoing Republican senators, Thom Tillis and John Cornyn, are threatening to block Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general. Their primary concern is the status of President Trump's $1.776 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund,' a controversial fund providing financial assistance to those who feel attacked for supporting Trump. During Blanche's confirmation hearing, he claimed the fund was dead, but Cornyn demands a written agreement to that effect, noting no written document exists. Tillis also wants changes to the IRS settlement agreement that created the fund and granted the Trump family immunity from future audits. Additionally, Tillis had previously threatened to block Blanche unless he met with Jeffrey Epstein survivors; Blanche did so, but survivors described the meeting as 'demoralizing' and accused him of political posturing. Blanche needs the support of all 11 Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance; with Cornyn and Tillis opposed, his nomination appears in jeopardy. The committee is scheduled to vote on Thursday.
Epstein Survivor Says Meeting with Acting AG Blanche Left Her Disappointed and Disturbed
Jess Michaels, a survivor of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, stated on Friday that her meeting with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche left her feeling 'disappointed, disturbed and undaunted.' Blanche agreed to the meeting under pressure from Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who holds a crucial vote in Blanche's confirmation process. The meeting highlights ongoing tensions between Epstein survivors and the Justice Department, as well as the political dynamics surrounding Blanche's nomination.
Epstein victims blast Trump attorney general nominee Todd Blanche after meeting
Victims of Jeffrey Epstein criticized acting Attorney General Todd Blanche after a meeting at the Department of Justice, calling him condescending, evasive, and motivated solely to secure his Senate confirmation as permanent attorney general. Survivor Dani Bensky said Blanche treated the meeting as a 'check-the-box' exercise. Senator Thom Tillis, who had threatened to block the nomination unless such a meeting occurred, praised Blanche for the sit-down, potentially clearing the way for his vote. Blanche acknowledged the meeting was not cordial, noting he could not offer the victims the justice they seek. The meeting comes amid controversy over the DOJ's handling of Epstein-related documents and Blanche's nomination by President Trump after firing Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Epstein victims blast Trump attorney general nominee Todd Blanche after meeting
Victims of Jeffrey Epstein criticized acting Attorney General Todd Blanche after a meeting at the Department of Justice, calling him condescending and evasive. They accused him of treating the sit-down as a mere procedural step to secure his Senate confirmation as permanent attorney general. Senator Thom Tillis had demanded the meeting before supporting Blanche's nomination. Survivor Annie Farmer said Blanche was abrasive and noncommittal, contrasting with his public testimony. Blanche acknowledged the meeting was not cordial, noting he could not offer the victims the justice they seek. The DOJ described the discussion as productive. Blanche's nomination faces a tight vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where all Democrats are expected to oppose him.
Epstein victims blast Trump attorney general nominee Todd Blanche after meeting
Victims of Jeffrey Epstein criticized acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche after a meeting at the Department of Justice, calling him condescending and evasive. They accused him of treating the sit-down as a mere formality to secure his Senate confirmation as permanent attorney general. Survivor Annie Farmer said Blanche was 'abrasive, condescending, and intentionally noncommittal.' Sen. Thom Tillis, who had threatened to block Blanche's nomination unless he met with victims, praised the meeting, potentially clearing the way for his vote. Blanche acknowledged the meeting was not cordial, noting victims wanted a form of justice he could not guarantee. The controversy follows a botched release of Epstein documents and Trump's firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Epstein files.
Epstein Victims Criticize 'Demoralizing' Meeting with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met with several Jeffrey Epstein survivors on Thursday, a meeting arranged hours after Republican Senator Thom Tillis conditioned his confirmation vote on such a meeting. Victims described the encounter as a political stunt, with Elizabeth Stein calling it 'demoralizing' and accusing Blanche of using them to 'check a box' for his promotion. Stein said Blanche dodged questions, refused to commit to investigating leads, and failed to explain Ghislaine Maxwell's lenient prison transfer or improper redactions in Epstein files. Annie Farmer found Blanche 'abrasive, condescending, and intentionally noncommittal,' urging senators to vote against his confirmation. Despite the victims' negative reactions, Senator Tillis expressed satisfaction, commending Blanche for meeting with victims, a step he said no predecessor had taken.
Blanche's Meeting with Epstein Victims Criticized as Demoralizing and Political
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met with several Jeffrey Epstein survivors on Thursday, a meeting widely criticized as a political gambit to secure Senate support for his permanent confirmation. The meeting was arranged hours after Republican Senator Thom Tillis conditioned his vote on Blanche meeting the victims. Survivors reported that Blanche was unwilling to provide substantive answers, dodged questions about Ghislaine Maxwell's prison transfer and improper redactions in Epstein files, and left them feeling demoralized and used as political pawns. Epstein survivor Annie Farmer described Blanche as abrasive and condescending, urging senators to vote against his confirmation. Despite the negative reaction from victims, Senator Tillis expressed satisfaction with the meeting, commending Blanche for engaging with them.
Epstein Victims Slam 'Demoralizing' Meeting With Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met with several Jeffrey Epstein survivors on Thursday, a meeting arranged hours after Republican Senator Thom Tillis conditioned his confirmation vote on such a meeting. Victims described the encounter as a 'major bust' and 'demoralizing,' accusing Blanche of using them as political pawns to advance his Senate confirmation. Elizabeth Stein said Blanche dodged questions, refused to commit to following investigative leads, and failed to explain Ghislaine Maxwell's cushy prison transfer or improper redactions in Epstein files. Annie Farmer called Blanche 'abrasive, condescending, and intentionally noncommittal,' urging senators to vote against his confirmation. Senator Tillis, however, commended Blanche for meeting with victims, calling it a historic first.
Blanche to Meet Epstein Survivors After Lawmaker Pressure
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will meet Thursday afternoon with survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes, following pressure from lawmakers during hearings on Capitol Hill this week. A Department of Justice (DOJ) source familiar with the meeting told The Hill’s broadcast partner, NewsNation, that Blanche will meet with these survivors at the DOJ’s headquarters. The meeting comes after senators and representatives pressed Blanche during confirmation and oversight hearings to engage directly with Epstein’s victims, who have long sought accountability and transparency from the Justice Department regarding the Epstein case and its handling.
Epstein survivors say Todd Blanche ignored them; Senator Tillis pressures Trump AG nominee
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring accuse Todd Blanche, President Trump's nominee for Attorney General, of ignoring their concerns. Blanche has apologized for redaction errors that inadvertently exposed nude photos and the names of accusers in released Epstein files. Republican Senator Thom Tillis is now leveraging his potentially decisive vote to force Blanche to meet with survivors and address their grievances. The controversy threatens Blanche's confirmation as the Senate is closely divided. The article highlights the political pressure on Blanche and the ongoing fallout from the mishandling of Epstein-related documents by the Trump administration.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis Gives Todd Blanche Ultimatum to Meet Epstein Survivors
Republican Senator Thom Tillis announced he will vote against Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general unless Blanche meets with Epstein survivors he has been avoiding for months. Blanche needs support from all 11 Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance. Tillis set a two-week deadline after survivor Dani Bensky criticized Blanche for meeting with Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell for nine hours while failing to meet with victims. Bensky accused Blanche of failing to protect survivors' personal information and resisting investigation into Epstein's facilitators. Tillis had previously demanded Blanche disavow January 6 protesters. The ultimatum could block Blanche's nomination.
Republican Senator Delivers Todd Blanche an Epstein Ultimatum
Republican Senator Thom Tillis announced he will vote against Todd Blanche's nomination for Attorney General unless Blanche meets with Epstein survivors, whom he has allegedly avoided for months. Blanche needs all 11 Republican votes on the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance. Tillis previously demanded Blanche disavow January 6 protesters. The ultimatum follows criticism from Epstein survivor Dani Bensky, who accused Blanche of failing to protect survivors' personal information and resisting investigation into Epstein's accomplices. Bensky noted Blanche met with Ghislaine Maxwell for nine hours before her transfer to a cushier prison. Tillis gave Blanche two weeks to fulfill the demand.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis Gives Todd Blanche Ultimatum to Meet Epstein Survivors
Republican Senator Thom Tillis announced he will vote against Todd Blanche's nomination for Attorney General unless Blanche meets with Epstein survivors, whom he has reportedly avoided for months. Blanche needs support from all 11 Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance. Tillis gave Blanche two weeks to fulfill the demand, after survivor Dani Bensky publicly criticized Blanche for not meeting with victims despite promising to do so, and for meeting with Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell for nine hours. Tillis had previously set a different condition for Blanche regarding January 6 protesters.
Epstein Survivor Testifies Todd Blanche Prioritized Maxwell Over Victims
At Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing for attorney general on July 16, 2026, Epstein survivor Dani Bensky testified that Blanche spent nine hours meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell but refused to meet with survivors. Bensky criticized Maxwell's transfer to a more comfortable prison after the meeting and Blanche's handling of Epstein files, including his presence in the White House Situation Room to manage political fallout rather than pursue investigative leads. Bensky, who was recruited by Epstein at age 17, joined at least 18 other victims in opposing Blanche's nomination. Blanche gave mixed signals about meeting survivors, stating he would never refuse to talk to victims but citing legal restrictions if they have lawyers.
Epstein Survivor Testifies Against Todd Blanche at Confirmation Hearing
At Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing for attorney general on July 16, 2026, Epstein survivor Dani Bensky testified that Blanche spent nine hours meeting with Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell but refused to meet with survivors. Bensky criticized Maxwell's transfer to a more comfortable prison following that meeting, and accused Blanche of treating the Epstein case as a political crisis rather than pursuing investigative leads. She noted Blanche's presence in the White House Situation Room last year to manage political fallout from the Epstein files, and his consistent redactions of survivor information. Bensky, who was recruited by Epstein at age 17, joined at least 18 other victims in opposing Blanche's nomination. During his own testimony, Blanche gave contradictory statements about meeting survivors, saying he would 'never not talk to victims' but also claiming he is prohibited from meeting them if they have lawyers.
Epstein Survivor Testifies Against Todd Blanche at Confirmation Hearing
At Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing for attorney general, Epstein survivor Dani Bensky testified that Blanche met with Ghislaine Maxwell for nine hours but refused to meet with survivors. She criticized Maxwell's transfer to a cushier prison after the meeting and accused Blanche of treating the Epstein case as a political crisis rather than pursuing investigative leads. Bensky noted Blanche's presence in the White House Situation Room last year to manage fallout from the Epstein files. She and at least 18 other victims oppose Blanche's nomination. Blanche gave mixed signals on meeting survivors, stating he would never refuse to talk to victims but citing legal prohibitions if they have lawyers.
Tillis adds new condition to his vote for Blanche: meeting with Epstein victims
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced a new condition for his vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general: Blanche must meet with victims of Jeffrey Epstein. The condition emerged during the second day of confirmation hearings, which included testimony from Epstein victim Dani Bensky, who accused Blanche of causing further harm through the release of Epstein files. Former pardon attorney Elizabeth Oyer testified she was fired for refusing to restore gun rights to Mel Gibson, alleging Blanche sent U.S. marshals to her home when she sought to testify to Congress. Republicans on the panel focused on Oyer's Biden-era commutation recommendations. Jennifer Bos, mother of a murder victim, testified in support of Blanche. The Senate Judiciary Committee, with an 11-10 partisan split, could vote on the nomination as early as July 30.