Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) laid down a firm condition Thursday for advancing Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney general: a face-to-face meeting with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring. Tillis, a key swing vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he has a “positive predisposition” toward Blanche but needs to see the acting attorney general engage directly with victims before he can support moving the nomination forward.
During a second day of hearings—where Blanche was notably absent—Tillis emphasized that the meeting must include the survivors and their legal counsel if they have representation. “I have not made a final decision. But Mr. Blanche said very quickly yesterday that he would meet with the victims, the Epstein victims, today if it could be arranged,” Tillis said, noting the committee is set to vote on the nomination at its next markup session in two weeks.
Blanche's Confirmation Hinges on Victim Outreach
Blanche faced a contentious confirmation hearing Wednesday, with Democrats pressing him on the Justice Department's handling of Epstein-related files. Ten Epstein survivors attended the hearing, and Judiciary Committee ranking member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) urged Blanche to meet with them. Tillis echoed that call, making it a prerequisite for his vote. “It seemed to me that Mr. Blanche was willing to say that he would meet with them and counsel. I understand the restriction that counsel has to be present. I expect that meeting to occur before I’m willing to vote out of this committee, and I’m trying to get to yes. But this is a very important part of getting to yes,” Tillis said.
Speaking with reporters later Thursday, Tillis described the two-week window before the markup as a “forcing mechanism.” He added, “He’s got two weeks. He can get it done. He said he’d meet with them yesterday, so he’s got two weeks, and I think he wants to meet with them, genuinely does. I just want to create a forcing mechanism to make sure it happens.”
The demand adds to mounting pressure on Blanche, who also faces skepticism from other Republicans. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) has withheld his support over a dispute involving a $1.776 billion fund, as previously reported by The World Signal. With the committee split evenly along party lines, a single Republican defection could stall Blanche's nomination.
Epstein Survivors Seek Accountability
The Epstein survivors' push for a meeting with Blanche reflects broader concerns about the Justice Department's transparency regarding the late financier's crimes. Earlier this week, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) criticized Blanche over the transfer of Ghislaine Maxwell, as detailed in this report. Meanwhile, Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Chuck Schumer joined survivors in rallying against Blanche's bid, as covered here.
Blanche, who stumbled on questions about his ties to former President Donald Trump during the hearing—a topic explored in this analysis—has not yet publicly committed to the meeting. Tillis, however, remains confident: “I think he wants to meet with them, genuinely does.” The clock is ticking for Blanche to deliver.
