Todd Blanche meets with Epstein survivors after key GOP senator's ultimatum

Source: CNN Politics

Updated Jul 16, 2026, 6:12 PM ET
PUBLISHED Jul 16, 2026, 9:14 AM ET


Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met with survivors of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday afternoon as he attempts to shore up support for his nomination as attorney general. Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican whose yes vote would be needed to advance Blanche’s nomination in the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the meeting was needed before he would vote in favor of President Donald Trump’s choice.

“This is a very important part of getting to yes,” Tillis said during a Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday. “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.”

“Blanche was willing to say that he would meet with them and counsel, I understand the restriction that counsel has to be present,” Tillis said Thursday. “I expect that meeting to occur before I’m willing to vote out of this committee, and I’m trying to get to yes.”

Thursday afternoon’s meeting with the survivors and Blanche lasted for just over an hour at the Justice Department. Blanche fielded hours of questions from the Senate panel yesterday, acknowledging there were some errors in the department’s vetting of the Epstein files, but defending his handling of the case.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/16/politics/todd-blanche-senate-hearing-witnesses