Tillis Says He Will Not Advance Blanche Nomination Without Epstein Victims Meeting

Sen. Thom Tillis said Thursday he will not vote to advance Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general unless Blanche meets with women who say Jeffrey Epstein abused them as minors. Tillis made the statement during the second day of Blanche's confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee and said the meeting must occur before he is prepared to advance the nomination.

"Todd Blanche said he'd meet with the Epstein survivors if it could be arranged. I expect that meeting to occur before I'm willing to vote him out of committee. There should be no reason why he wouldn't," Tillis said.

"I have not made a final decision" on whether he will vote to advance Blanche, he added. Republicans hold an 11-10 advantage on the Senate Judiciary Committee following the July 11 death of Sen. Lindsey Graham.

With Democrats expected to oppose Blanche unanimously, a single Republican defection could prevent the nomination from reaching the Senate floor. Sen. John Cornyn has also withheld a final commitment on Blanche's nomination.

Asked Thursday about Tillis's request, Cornyn said, "I think it would be good to do that, yeah," though he did not say whether his vote hinged on Blanche meeting with victims. On July 15, Sen. Dick Durbin asked Blanche to promise under oath that he would personally meet within 30 days with 10 Epstein victims attending the hearing.

Blanche said he was open to such a meeting but could not contact survivors represented by attorneys without going through their counsel. "I have never said I will not meet with survivors," Blanche said. Blanche added that DOJ officials had already spoken with more than 30 attorneys representing Epstein victims and were prepared to arrange a meeting immediately.