Senator Tillis Demands Meeting with Epstein Survivors from AG Nominee

Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina has set a condition for his support of Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general. During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Tillis stated that Blanche must meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse to gain his vote.

Tillis emphasized this point after it became known that attempts by Epstein survivors to engage with Blanche had been unsuccessful. This demand comes as Tillis, who is set to retire next year, considers his crucial vote.

While Tillis has previously expressed support for Blanche, he introduced the new requirement linked to the Epstein case. This case has posed political challenges for President Trump and the Justice Department, including Blanche.

If all committee Democrats oppose Blanche, a single Republican dissent could end his nomination. Tillis has made such threats before, resisting nominations but often relenting in final votes.

During Blanche’s committee hearing, his role in the Epstein case faced scrutiny. Blanche refrained from committing to a direct meeting with the survivors, stating he required their lawyer’s presence or could send an aide instead.

Tillis insisted that Blanche personally meet with the survivors, stating, “I expect that meeting to occur before I’m willing to vote out of the committee.” He highlighted that the Senate schedule provided roughly two weeks for such a meeting pre-vote.

The senator expressed his intent to support Blanche but stressed the importance of this meeting in his decision-making. Tillis remarked, “There should not be any reason” for Blanche to avoid this meeting.

During the hearing, Blanche faced questions about his decision involving Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted associate. Blanche spent two days interviewing Maxwell, which preceded her transfer to a more lenient facility, going against standard federal prison protocol.

Reporting contributions by Karoun Demirjian and Devlin Barrett, who covers the Justice Department and F.B.I. for The Times.