Todd Blanche’s nomination to be the next attorney general could hinge on whether he personally meets with victims of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
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Blanche is in a tight confirmation fight and cannot afford to lose a single Republican as he seeks the Senate Judiciary Committee’s approval to move to a full Senate vote.
On Thursday, the second day of Blanche’s confirmation hearing, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) said he would not vote to confirm if the acting attorney general does not personally meet with Epstein’s victims. Tillis issued the ultimatum in speaking to Dani Bensky, an Epstein victim who testified against Blanche’s nomination.
Bensky and other Epstein victims have said that Blanche has refused to meet with them. Blanche told senators Wednesday he could not meet directly with the victims if they have attorneys, adding that an experienced member of his staff could do so.
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Tillis, who is not running for reelection, said Thursday he “has a predisposition to Blanche” and would like to vote for him. He said the earliest a committee vote would occur is in two weeks.
“I expect that meeting to occur before I’m willing to vote,” Tillis said, referring to a meeting between Blanche and Epstein victims. “I am trying to get to yes, and this is a very important part of getting to yes.”
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