Victims of Jeffrey Epstein criticize Todd Blanche after meeting with the acting attorney general to discuss his confirmation.

Todd Blanche met with several survivors of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday at the Department of Justice headquarters. The meeting was held following an ultimatum from Senator Thom Tillis, who required Blanche to engage with the victims before he would vote to advance the nomination to the full Senate. While the administration announced the meeting was a "productive, initial discussion," many survivors expressed frustration with the results. Annie Farmer described Blanche as abrasive and condescending, noting that he refused to take accountability for mistakes made under his own leadership. Other survivors, including Dani Bensky, criticized the meeting as a "check-the-box" exercise intended to secure votes for his promotion. Blanche acknowledged the victims' frustration, stating that while he wants to provide justice through future prosecutions, he could not promise immediate results. He encouraged the survivors to provide new evidence to FBI investigators. Despite the mixed reactions from the victims, Tillis commended Blanche for his willingness to directly engage with the survivors, a gesture many previous officials had failed to make.

Sources