Key GOP senator says Todd Blanche needs to meet with Epstein victims before winning his support
Tillis Stipulates Epstein Victim Meeting Before Supporting Blanche Nomination
Key GOP senator says Todd Blanche – A pivotal Republican senator indicated Thursday that he requires Todd Blanche to engage directly with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein before casting his affirmative vote on the attorney general nomination. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina expressed a generally favorable view toward the nominee but clarified that his ultimate decision remains pending. During the Senate Judiciary Committee proceedings, Tillis emphasized the significance of this potential meeting in securing his support for President Donald Trump’s selection.
“This is a very important part of getting to yes,” Tillis stated during the hearing. “There should not be any reason why, based on what Mr. Blanche said yesterday, if he said that he would do it today, then he can certainly do it over the next two weeks.”
The senator noted that Blanche had previously indicated willingness to meet with the victims, acknowledging the legal requirement that counsel must be present during such encounters. Tillis made clear that he expects this meeting to take place before he would be comfortable voting to advance the nomination out of committee. He described his current position as actively working toward a “yes” vote.
Blanche’s Hearing and Acknowledgment of Errors
During hours of questioning the day before, Blanche addressed the Senate panel regarding his handling of the Epstein case. He conceded that certain mistakes occurred during the department’s review of the Epstein files but maintained that he managed the situation appropriately. A coalition of Epstein survivors has been actively lobbying the Senate to oppose Blanche’s confirmation.
On Thursday, survivor Dani Bensky provided testimony against the acting attorney general. Other survivors were present in the hearing room, holding photographs of themselves depicting the ages at which they first experienced abuse. Following Tillis’ public comments, a representative from the Justice Department informed CNN that arrangements for a meeting between Blanche and the survivors would be completed within a fortnight.
Two Senators Hold the Balance of Power
The outcome of Blanche’s nomination within the Judiciary Committee rests with two Republican senators who face no electoral consequences: Tillis and Texas Senator John Cornyn. Both lawmakers have announced they will not seek reelection or have already lost their primary elections. Cornyn recently lost the Republican primary in Texas to a candidate backed by Trump, while Tillis revealed last year his intention to retire from the Senate.
These two senators have also emerged as prominent Republican voices criticizing the Justice Department’s earlier proposal for an approximately $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. Blanche has publicly declared that this fund is now “dead.” However, Cornyn expressed optimism on Thursday that the initiative could potentially be resurrected following Blanche’s testimony.
“I think what I confirmed is that the weaponization fund is, still can be revived, and so this idea that it’s somehow gone is just not true, in my opinion,” Cornyn told CNN.
Tillis indicated that he requires concrete documentation to ensure the fund would not reemerge in the future. He described wanting specific, measurable outcomes rather than informal assurances.
“There are very specific, measurable work products — not a wink and a nod and a handshake, but definable, ratified, executed agreements that will make me feel comfortable that this turkey of an idea is dead,” the senator explained.
Redaction Issues and Survivor Concerns
Blanche faced the delicate task of reassuring Republicans about maintaining his aggressive approach at the Justice Department while simultaneously demonstrating that political interference from Trump would be limited. The acting attorney general had to navigate these competing expectations carefully during his testimony.
Regarding the redaction process, Blanche defended the department’s efforts on Wednesday. He noted that approximately one percent of the roughly three million files required corrections after initial release. While acknowledging these mistakes, he emphasized that the department made genuine efforts to address them promptly.
However, Epstein victims including Bensky argued that the redactions arrived too late, after their personal information had already been made public. Lauren Hersh, co-founder of World Without Exploitation, expressed that survivors felt validated by Tillis’ comments. She noted that survivors had been requesting meetings repeatedly over an extended period.
“Survivors feel seen and heard today. They have been harmed by this DOJ and specifically by Todd Blanche,” Hersh said.
For Thursday’s hearing, Republicans presented former Attorney General John Ashcroft, who served under President George W. Bush, as a witness. The combination of Tillis’ requirements, Cornyn’s openness to revival of the fund, and the upcoming meeting with survivors will likely determine whether Blanche secures the necessary support to advance his nomination.
