Tillis says he will not advance Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination without meeting with Epstein survivors

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said he would condition his support for Todd Blanche’s attorney general advancement on whether the acting attorney general meets with Epstein survivors who have contacted the Department of Justice.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said he would not vote to advance Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination unless Blanche meets with Epstein survivors who have reached out to the Department of Justice. Tillis made the pledge after Blanche, who is serving as acting attorney general, answered questions at a confirmation-related proceeding on Wednesday, according to The Hill.

In an interview reported by The Hill on Thursday, Tillis said he has a “positive predisposition” toward Blanche, but framed the survivor meeting as “a very important part of getting to yes.” The senator tied his position to ensuring that the nominees’ process includes engagement with victims who have sought access through the Justice Department.

Tillis’s statement reflects a Senate practice in which individual senators place additional conditions on how they evaluate nominees, even when the nominee already has proceeded through questioning. The senator’s comments indicate that, for his vote, the question is not limited to testimony alone, but also includes whether the nominee will take further steps with parties who have contacted the Department of Justice.

The Hill reported that Blanche sat for several hours of questions on Wednesday as part of the confirmation process, and that Tillis’s decision would depend on the follow-up meeting with the survivors. As of the time of publication, The Hill’s reporting did not include official confirmation from the Department of Justice that a meeting had been scheduled or occurred.

The Justice Department has not been cited in the available record provided with any announcement about a specific meeting timeline or scheduling outcome. Because this central element of the story depends on coordination within the department, official verification would be needed before treating it as confirmed fact rather than Tillis’s stated condition.

If Tillis’s position holds, it would shape the Senate timeline for Blanche’s consideration by indicating that additional senator-level prerequisites could determine whether the nomination moves forward. The next procedural steps would depend on whether Blanche engages with the survivors in the manner described by Tillis and whether that engagement satisfies his stated requirement.

Why It Matters

Tillis’s condition could affect whether Blanche’s nomination advances in the Senate, depending on other lawmakers’ positions and the timing of any meeting.
The statement underscores that, beyond initial testimony, senators may require additional engagement steps with affected parties tied to specific Justice Department issues.
Because the survivor-meeting element is not confirmed in an official Justice Department release in the provided materials, it highlights the importance of verifiable scheduling and procedural documentation before votes proceed.

Sources

Key Facts

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said he would not vote to advance Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination without a meeting with Epstein survivors who have contacted the Department of Justice.
Tillis said he has a “positive predisposition” toward Blanche but described the survivor meeting as “a very important part of getting to yes.”
Tillis’s comments were made in connection with Blanche’s Wednesday confirmation-related questioning.
The available record includes The Hill’s reporting on Tillis’s condition but does not cite a Department of Justice announcement confirming a meeting or schedule.