Todd Blanche's Meeting with Epstein Survivors Raises Concerns

During the confirmation hearing for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on July 16, 2026, Senator Thom Tillis expressed a desire for Blanche to meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein before he would support his nomination. Following this, a meeting took place at the Justice Department, where survivors reported feeling disappointed with Blanche's approach. Dani Bensky, an Epstein survivor, stated that Blanche treated the meeting as a formality and did not adequately address concerns regarding the release of sensitive materials or propose a clear plan for accountability beyond Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Attendees noted that Blanche claimed he lacked the power to initiate investigations, attributing that authority to the FBI. Survivors were surprised when Blanche requested testimony and evidence, despite having previously provided such information. The meeting also included discussions about allegations against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, which Blanche stated could not be pursued due to a lack of cooperation. Survivors challenged this assertion, emphasizing that prosecutors can build cases based on available evidence. Concerns were raised about Blanche's understanding of the corroborative evidence against Maxwell, with attendees citing multiple testimonies from women who had accused her. Annie Farmer, a witness in the Maxwell trial, criticized Blanche for not taking responsibility for past failures in handling reports of abuse.