Blanche meets with Epstein accusers after demand from Republican senator crucial to confirmation

By — Alanna Durkin, Associated Press Alanna Durkin, Associated Press By — Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/blanche-meets-with-epstein-accusers-after-demand-from-republican-senator-crucial-to-confirmation Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Blanche meets with Epstein accusers after demand from Republican senator crucial to confirmation Politics Jul 17, 2026 9:33 AM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met Thursday with accusers of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein following the demand by a Republican senator whose support is crucial to advancing his nomination to lead the Justice Department. WATCH: Tillis says he won't vote to confirm Blanche unless nominee meets with Epstein survivors Blanche spent about an hour at Justice Department headquarters in Washington with the group of Epstein accusers, who have criticized the Trump administration's handling of the disgraced financier's investigation and a trove of files related to his sex trafficking case. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. After the meeting, Blanche told reporters that he encouraged the accusers to come to the FBI with any information that could help investigators build cases against additional figures tied to Epstein. WATCH: Senators question Blanche on Trump loyalty, Jan. 6 cases and Epstein files But Blanche acknowledged he couldn't assure them additional prosecutions could be brought. The Justice Department has repeatedly said it will investigate further if new information surfaces, but the government doesn't currently have evidence to support prosecutions against others in Epstein's orbit. WATCH: Blanche says FBI and DOJ don't have evidence that Epstein trafficked women to other men "It wasn't all cordial," Blanche said of Thursday's meeting. "Because there's something that they want that I don't think I can give them, which is some form of justice. And I want to be able to give justice in the form of prosecutions, and maybe we can do a prosecution at some point," Blanche said. But Blanche added, "I don't know." READ MORE: 3 major takeaways from Todd Blanche's attorney general confirmation hearing The political firestorm over Epstein has been a persistent headache for the Trump administration, which released millions of investigative documents over the last year in response to right-wing clamoring for answers about the disgraced financier's crimes and connections to high-profile people. One accuser is disappointed in Blanche meeting One accuser, Dani Bensky, expressed frustration after the meeting, saying Blanche appeared to treat it as "a mere 'check-the-box' exercise intended to secure votes for his confirmation." "He danced around his wording, repeatedly interrupted us and could not commit to anything that would demo