Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a key Republican whose vote is vital for advancing Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general, has set a condition for his support. Tillis demands that Blanche meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse. This stipulation was made during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday.
Blanche, who currently serves as the acting attorney general, has been the focus of efforts by Epstein survivors seeking a meeting for months. Tillis, who plans to retire next year, has expressed support for Blanche’s nomination. However, on Thursday, he added a condition tied to the Epstein case, which has posed challenges for both President Trump and the Justice Department, including Blanche.
The committee’s composition means that if all Democratic members oppose Blanche, a single Republican dissent could derail his nomination. Tillis has previously indicated he might withhold support for other nominees, such as incoming defense secretary Pete Hegseth, yet has often relented in final votes.
Blanche’s involvement in the Epstein case was a prominent topic during a hearing on Wednesday. While questioned about the possibility of meeting Epstein survivors, Blanche was noncommittal. He insisted he would require the presence of the survivors’ lawyer and suggested a staff member meet with them instead.
On Thursday, Tillis emphasized the necessity of a direct meeting. “I expect that meeting to occur before I’m willing to vote out of the committee,” he stated, giving Blanche approximately two weeks to arrange this meeting.
Tillis articulated his intent to support Blanche, noting, “But this is a very important part of getting to yes. There should not be any reason” for Blanche to avoid a meeting with Epstein’s survivors, he added.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, senators repeatedly questioned Blanche about his interactions with Epstein’s convicted co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. Concerns were raised over Blanche’s meetings with Maxwell, which coincided with her transfer to a less restrictive prison, a move seen as a violation of policy by veteran federal prison officials.
Coverage and reporting were contributed by Karoun Demirjian and Devlin Barrett, who specializes in Justice Department and F.B.I. matters for The Times.
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