Tillis Sets Meeting With Epstein Survivors as Voting Condition for Blanche

WHO:

CBS News - Todd Blanche, acting Attorney General, met with Epstein accusers following a demand from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC).

NBC News - Epstein survivor Dani Bensky described her meeting with Todd Blanche.

Drudge Report - Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Todd Blanche, survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes

CBS News - Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC)

NY Post - Todd Blanche, acting Attorney General

WHAT:

Forbes - Sen. Thom Tillis stated he has a “positive predisposition” toward Todd Blanche and emphasized that if Blanche claimed he could meet with victims “today,” then he could certainly do it over the next two weeks.

Forbes - Tillis noted he expects the meeting with Epstein victims to occur before he is willing to vote Blanche out of the committee.

Forbes - The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on Blanche’s confirmation in two weeks.

Forbes - Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, expressed reservations about Blanche and remains undecided about approving him after questioning during the confirmation hearing.

Forbes - Tillis stated he will not support Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general unless Blanche meets with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes.

Forbes - Dani Bensky criticized Blanche for not communicating with her and other survivors, saying he has “simply ignored us for the last eight months” and “been radio silent.”

Forbes - Sen. Thom Tillis stated he has “not made a final decision” on whether to vote for Todd Blanche’s confirmation and expects the meeting with Epstein victims to occur before he is willing to vote Blanche out of the committee.

Forbes - Tillis noted he has a “positive predisposition” toward the nominee and emphasized that if Blanche claimed he could meet with victims “today,” then he could certainly do it over the next two weeks.

Forbes - The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on Blanche’s confirmation in two weeks.

Forbes - Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, expressed reservations about Blanche and remains undecided about approving him after questioning during the confirmation hearing.

CBS News - Todd Blanche's meeting with Epstein accusers was described as crucial for advancing his nomination to lead the Justice Department.

NBC News - Dani Bensky called the meeting with Todd Blanche "emotional" and described it as "frustrating," urging for continued commitment from Blanche in the Epstein investigation.

CBS News - Sen. Thom Tillis stated that he will not support Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general unless Blanche meets with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes.

NBC News - Witnesses, including Jeffrey Epstein survivors, testified during the second day of confirmation hearings for Todd Blanche.

Boston.com - The handling of millions of files related to Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking investigation has been a persistent political issue for the Trump administration.

Boston.com - Todd Blanche will meet with Epstein accusers as a result of Sen. Thom Tillis's demand, which is crucial for his confirmation as attorney general.

NBC News - Witnesses, including Jeffrey Epstein survivors, testified in the second day of confirmation hearings for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Drudge Report - Tillis stated he will withhold his vote for Todd Blanche's nomination until Blanche meets with Epstein survivors.

CBS News - Sen. Tillis stated he will not support Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general unless Blanche meets with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes.

NY Post - Tillis has laid out a condition for his support of Blanche's nomination.

WHERE:

Drudge Report - Senate Judiciary Committee

CBS News - Senate Judiciary Committee

WHY:

Forbes - Epstein victims have long protested their inability to meet with the Justice Department regarding Epstein and the files related to their cases, which they claim included some of their personal information.

CBS News - Sen. Thom Tillis stated that his support for Todd Blanche's nomination is contingent upon Blanche's engagement with Epstein survivors.

NBC News - Bensky emphasized the need for ongoing dedication to the Epstein investigation during her discussion with Blanche.

Drudge Report - Tillis's condition is based on the necessity for Blanche to engage with Epstein survivors before receiving his support.

CBS News - Tillis's condition is based on the need for Blanche to engage with Epstein survivors before receiving his vote.

HOW:

Forbes - Blanche provided conflicting statements about meeting with Epstein victims, initially claiming he could not meet directly if they had attorneys, but later suggested he could meet with them directly.

Forbes - Todd Blanche provided conflicting statements about meeting with Epstein victims, initially claiming he could not meet directly if they had attorneys, but later suggested he could meet with them directly.

(UPDATED July 17, 2026 11:21 UTC)

Senator Thom Tillis has expressed a "positive predisposition" toward Todd Blanche, but he insists that Blanche must meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes before he can support his nomination for attorney general. Tillis expects this meeting to happen before the Senate Judiciary Committee votes on Blanche's confirmation in two weeks, while Senator John Cornyn remains undecided after raising concerns during the confirmation hearing. Dani Bensky, a survivor, has criticized Blanche for his lack of communication, stating that he has "simply ignored us for the last eight months" despite his conflicting statements about the possibility of meeting with victims.

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(UPDATED July 17, 2026 10:29 UTC)

Senator Thom Tillis has indicated that he has not yet made a final decision on whether to support Todd Blanche’s confirmation, stating he wants to meet with Epstein victims before casting his vote. He expressed a positive predisposition toward Blanche, emphasizing that if Blanche could meet with victims "today," he should be able to do so within the next two weeks, as the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote on his confirmation in that timeframe. Meanwhile, Senator John Cornyn has voiced concerns about Blanche and remains undecided following the confirmation hearing, amid ongoing frustrations from Epstein victims regarding their access to the Justice Department and the handling of their cases.

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(UPDATED July 17, 2026 03:59 UTC)

Todd Blanche, the acting Attorney General, recently met with accusers of Jeffrey Epstein, a move prompted by a demand from Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina. This meeting is seen as crucial for advancing Blanche's nomination to lead the Justice Department, as Senator Tillis has made it clear that his support hinges on Blanche's engagement with Epstein survivors. The discussions are expected to play a significant role in shaping the future of Blanche's nomination process.

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(UPDATED July 17, 2026 00:19 UTC)

Dani Bensky, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein, recently shared her experience meeting with Todd Blanche, calling it both "emotional" and "frustrating." During their conversation, she urged Blanche to maintain a strong commitment to the ongoing Epstein investigation. Bensky highlighted the importance of continued dedication to ensure justice for survivors like herself.

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(UPDATED July 16, 2026 23:16 UTC)

Senator Thom Tillis has announced that he will not support Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general unless Blanche meets with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes. This statement comes as witnesses, including Epstein survivors, testified during the second day of confirmation hearings for Blanche. Additionally, the handling of millions of files related to Epstein's sex trafficking investigation continues to be a significant political issue for Trump’s administration.

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(UPDATED July 16, 2026 22:21 UTC)

Todd Blanche is set to meet with Epstein accusers, a move prompted by Senator Thom Tillis's demand that is essential for his confirmation as attorney general. This meeting is expected to play a significant role in the confirmation process. As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on how this engagement impacts the proceedings.

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(UPDATED July 16, 2026 21:19 UTC)

Witnesses, including survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, testified today during the second day of confirmation hearings for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. The hearings are drawing significant attention as they unfold. This testimony is part of the process to confirm Blanche in his new role.

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(UPDATED July 16, 2026 20:17 UTC)

Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina has announced that he will withhold his vote for Todd Blanche's nomination until Blanche meets with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes. This statement was made during a session of the Senate Judiciary Committee, highlighting Tillis's insistence on the importance of engaging with those affected by Epstein's actions. Tillis's decision underscores his belief that such discussions are essential before he can offer his support for Blanche.

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(UPDATED July 16, 2026 19:22 UTC)

Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina has announced that he will not support Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general unless Blanche meets with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes. This condition was laid out during a discussion in the Senate Judiciary Committee, emphasizing the importance of engaging with those affected by Epstein's actions. Tillis believes that this meeting is essential before he can cast his vote in favor of Blanche's nomination.