Epstein victims criticize Todd Blanche after DOJ meeting on nomination

Victims of Jeffrey Epstein criticized acting Attorney General Todd Blanche after a Justice Department meeting held as his nomination to become permanent U.S. attorney general faces scrutiny in the Senate. The encounter may affect the vote of Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican whose support could be decisive in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Blanche, President Donald Trump’s nominee and former personal defense lawyer, met Thursday with a small group of Epstein victims after Tillis said he would not support moving the nomination out of committee until such a meeting occurred. The Justice Department described the session as a “productive, initial discussion.” Several victims gave a sharply different account.

Annie Farmer, an Epstein victim, said in a statement Thursday night that the meeting strengthened her view that senators should reject Blanche’s confirmation. Farmer described him as “abrasive, condescending, and intentionally noncommittal to survivors” and said he was more willing to fault prior administrations than address mistakes made while he has led the department.

Liz Stein, another survivor, told MS NOW’s “The Weeknight” that the meeting was “demoralizing” and said she believed it was arranged so Blanche could satisfy a political requirement for confirmation. Dani Bensky, who testified against Blanche’s nomination before the Judiciary Committee earlier Thursday, said in a statement that Blanche treated the meeting as a “check-the-box” exercise and did not make commitments she viewed as necessary to rebuild trust.

Committee vote remains uncertain

Tillis had warned Thursday morning that he was not prepared to vote for Blanche in committee unless the nominee met with victims. After the meeting, Tillis wrote on X that he commended Blanche for doing what predecessors over two decades had not done by meeting with victims of Epstein’s crimes. Tillis said he appreciated Blanche’s willingness to engage with and listen to them.

The committee balance gives the issue practical weight. CNBC reported that all 10 Democrats on the Judiciary Committee are expected to oppose Blanche. The panel currently has 11 Republicans after the death last weekend of Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina left a Republican vacancy. Under that arithmetic, a Republican defection could block the nomination from advancing. Blanche could still remain acting attorney general if the Senate does not confirm him.

Victims have faulted Blanche and the Justice Department over the department’s release of Epstein-related records, saying the release exposed identifying information and images connected to survivors. Bensky said Blanche did not adequately explain that disclosure and did not present what she considered a credible plan to pursue accountability beyond Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted accomplice.

A Justice Department spokesperson said Friday that Blanche, senior department officials, FBI special agents and victim services representatives attended the meeting. The spokesperson said Blanche answered questions, described what investigators need for cases to proceed, and encouraged victims who had not contacted the FBI during the current administration to meet with agents. The department said attendees spoke with agents after the meeting about scheduling interviews.

The confirmation fight follows Trump’s April dismissal of Attorney General Pam Bondi over her handling of the Epstein files. Blanche has also faced questions from Tillis, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and other Republicans over the Justice Department’s $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization” fund, which was created as part of a settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the unlawful leak of his tax records by an IRS contractor.

The fund would have compensated claimed victims of prosecutorial overreach by the Justice Department. After criticism from Republican senators and others, Blanche told a House subcommittee in June that the fund was dead. Tillis, Cornyn and other critics have raised concerns that the Trump administration could revive it.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.