Several survivors of Jeffrey Epstein sent written statements to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary opposing Todd Blanche's nomination to serve as Attorney General. They cited concerns regarding his handling of files related to the investigation of Epstein's crimes. The family of Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Epstein accuser who died by suicide last year, along with survivors Jess Michaels and Liz Stein, submitted statements for Blanche's confirmation hearing scheduled for this week.
In their letters, they expressed strong opposition to Blanche's nomination by President Donald Trump, highlighting that victims' personal information was not redacted in the Epstein files release, while alleged perpetrators' names were withheld. The Roberts family stated, "Survivors are being exposed while those who may have participated in or enabled these crimes are protected. That is a betrayal of justice."
They also noted that Blanche had claimed to meet with survivors, but they were unaware of any such meetings. The family added, "To confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General would say something profound about the moral compass of the United States."
Michaels, who identifies as one of Epstein's earliest publicly known survivors, included leads she provided to the FBI during its investigation, which were not pursued. She stated, "From my perspective, this wasn’t simply a technical mistake. The handling of my file reflects a process that failed survivors."
Stein recounted her experience with Epstein, emphasizing the impact of the failed redactions in the files release on her life. She questioned the Department of Justice's ability to protect victims, stating, "If the Department of Justice cannot faithfully carry out a law specifically enacted to protect victims in one of the most significant sex trafficking cases in American history, why should any victim trust it to protect them?"
Blanche, a former federal prosecutor, has been a prominent legal defender of Trump during his criminal cases. He assumed the role of acting Attorney General after Pam Bondi was dismissed due to backlash over the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein files. Blanche previously stated that the Epstein files "should not be a part of anything going forward" in the DOJ.
It is uncertain whether Blanche will receive sufficient support from the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance to the full Senate for a vote. Senators Thom Tillis, John Cornyn, and John Kennedy have expressed opposition to his nomination, while centrist Republicans like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski may also require persuasion if the nomination progresses.