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Epstein Survivors Call Todd Blanche Meeting Dismissive and ‘Demoralizing’/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Jeffrey Epstein survivors criticized a long-awaited meeting with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as dismissive, unproductive and designed to secure his Senate confirmation. Blanche encouraged the women to provide information to the FBI but acknowledged that he could not promise additional prosecutions. The meeting followed pressure from Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, whose support is essential for advancing Blanche’s nomination.

Quick Look

• Blanche met with Epstein survivors for approximately one hour at Justice Department headquarters.
• Several survivors described him as dismissive, condescending and noncommittal.
• Dani Bensky called the meeting a “check-the-box” exercise intended to secure confirmation votes.
• Elizabeth Stein described the experience as “demoralizing.”
• Annie Farmer criticized Blanche’s explanations concerning Ghislaine Maxwell.
• Blanche encouraged survivors to bring evidence about other Epstein associates to the FBI.
• He acknowledged that he could not guarantee additional prosecutions.
• The Justice Department described the meeting as a “productive, initial discussion.”
• Republican Sen. Thom Tillis demanded the meeting before deciding whether to support Blanche.
• One Republican vote against Blanche in the Senate Judiciary Committee could prevent his nomination from advancing.
• Republican Sen. John Cornyn has also expressed concerns and remains undecided.
• Survivors have criticized the Justice Department’s handling and release of the Epstein investigative files.
• Redaction failures exposed personal information and images of potential victims.
• Blanche apologized for mistakes involving approximately 1% of the released documents.

Epstein Survivors Criticize Meeting With Blanche

WASHINGTON — Several survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse said their long-awaited meeting with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche felt dismissive, unproductive and focused more on his confirmation than their pursuit of justice.

Blanche met with Epstein accusers for approximately one hour Thursday at Justice Department headquarters in Washington.

The meeting followed pressure from Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, whose vote is critical to advancing Blanche’s nomination to lead the Justice Department permanently.

For Blanche, the meeting potentially removed a significant obstacle to his confirmation. For the survivors, it represented their first direct opportunity to confront the official overseeing the department’s handling of the Epstein investigation and its files.

Survivor Calls Blanche ‘Abrasive’ and ‘Condescending’

Annie Farmer, who accused Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell of abuse, offered a sharply negative assessment of Blanche’s conduct.

Farmer said she found Blanche “abrasive, condescending, and intentionally noncommittal to survivors — a marked contrast to his public testimony during his confirmation hearing.”

She also criticized the explanations Blanche provided about his interview with Maxwell and her transfer to a minimum-security prison camp.

Maxwell was convicted of helping Epstein recruit and sexually abuse teenage girls.

Bensky Describes ‘Check-the-Box’ Exercise

Dani Bensky, an Epstein survivor who testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier Thursday, said she entered the meeting with “a small glimmer of hope.”

Afterward, she said the discussion was neither “substantive” nor “productive.”

Bensky accused Blanche of treating the gathering as “a mere ‘check-the-box’ exercise intended to secure votes for his confirmation.”

Survivor Calls Meeting ‘Demoralizing’

Elizabeth Stein echoed concerns that Blanche held the meeting primarily to improve his confirmation prospects.

The survivors’ reactions contrasted sharply with the Justice Department’s description of the meeting.

DOJ Calls Discussion Productive

A Justice Department spokesperson characterized the gathering as a “productive, initial discussion.”

The meeting included Blanche, Epstein survivors, senior Justice Department officials, FBI special agents and victim services representatives.

The department added that Blanche encouraged survivors to meet with FBI investigators “as the next step.”

Blanche Says He Cannot Promise Prosecutions

After the meeting, Blanche told reporters that he asked the survivors to provide the FBI with any information that could help investigators build criminal cases against other people connected to Epstein.

He acknowledged, however, that he could not promise that additional prosecutions would occur.

The Justice Department has repeatedly said it would investigate credible new evidence. Officials maintain that the government does not currently possess enough evidence to prosecute additional figures within Epstein’s circle.

Survivors Say Blanche Previously Ignored Requests

During her testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Bensky said Epstein survivors had repeatedly tried to meet directly with Blanche.

She also alleged that the Justice Department failed to properly redact her personal information and information identifying other survivors in the publicly released Epstein files.

Blanche Defends Justice Department’s Response

Blanche has disputed claims that the Justice Department ignored or dismissed Epstein’s victims.

He said department officials had communicated with more than 30 representatives of survivors during their review of the investigative records.

During his confirmation hearing Wednesday, Blanche also promised that the department would remain open to survivors.

However, Blanche also said he had been “prohibited from meeting directly with” survivors and that Justice Department officials had instead communicated with their attorneys.

Tillis’ Vote Is Crucial to Confirmation

The meeting occurred hours after Tillis said Blanche needed to speak directly with survivors before receiving his support.

Tillis serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where a single Republican vote against the nomination could prevent it from advancing to the full Senate.

During Wednesday’s confirmation hearing, Tillis indicated that he was leaning toward supporting Blanche.

After hearing Bensky’s testimony, however, the retiring senator said he expected Blanche to meet the survivors before he was “willing to vote out of this committee.”

Following Thursday’s meeting, Tillis praised Blanche for holding the discussion.

Cornyn Also Raises Concerns

Republican Sen. John Cornyn has also expressed reservations about Blanche’s nomination and has not announced how he will vote.

The Judiciary Committee questioned Blanche about several issues, including the Epstein files, a proposed fund to compensate Trump allies and a tax immunity arrangement involving President Donald Trump.

Blanche has served as acting attorney general since April.

He previously served as deputy attorney general, overseeing a massive review and the release of millions of documents connected to the Epstein investigation.

Epstein File Release Marred by Redaction Errors

The Trump administration released millions of Epstein- investigative documents following sustained demands from conservative activists seeking information about his crimes and connections to powerful people.

The staggered release encountered significant problems.

Redaction mistakes exposed nude photographs showing the faces of potential victims, along with other sensitive personal information.

Blanche accepted responsibility for the failures during his confirmation hearing but said Justice Department attorneys faced a “herculean task” in reviewing millions of pages quickly.

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