Key senator demands Blanche meet with Epstein survivors to win AG vote

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News on Jul 16, 2026

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Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., Thursday said he won’t vote in favor of Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general unless the nominee meets with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring.

The Republican lawmaker, who is retiring and is considered a crucial swing vote on Blanche’s bid, said he wants to see a meeting before any vote in the Judiciary Committee, which is expected by July 30.

“I expect that meeting to occur before I’m willing to vote out of this committee,” Tillis said at the second day of hearings at the panel on Capitol Hill. “I’m trying to get to ‘yes,’ but this is a very important part of getting to ‘yes.’”

Blanche dodged questions about why he has refused to meet with Epstein survivors, claiming it would somehow be improper to do so with their lawyers present, a claim lawyers and lawmakers strongly dispute.

The onetime personal lawyer spent two days last summer meeting with Epstein’s convicted lieutenant, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was rewarded with a highly unusual transfer to a more preferable Texas prison camp.

One other Republican on the committee, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, has also said he’s undecided on Blanche. Republicans hold an 11-10 edge so Blanche needs the votes of all GOP lawmakers to advance his confirmation to the full Senate.

Blanche endured a rocky day of grilling from senators Wednesday about his handling of the Epstein matter as well as President Trump’s proposal for a $1,8 billion slush fund for his supporters including those who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

He slipped up by inadvertently saying “I am his lawyer,” about Trump, but otherwise mostly kept his cool as Democrats sought to goad him into gaffes.

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