Epstein survivors pan Blanche meeting as dismissive, "demoralizing"

Multiple survivors of https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/epstein-files" target="_blank">Jeffrey Epstein's abuse said a long-awaited meeting with attorney general nominee https://www.axios.com/2026/07/15/todd-blanche-federal-agents-polling-places-voters-ice" target="_blank">Todd Blanche felt more like an obligatory box to check than a substantive conversation.

The big picture: For Blanche, the meeting was a necessary step to https://www.axios.com/2026/07/16/tillis-withholds-blanche-support-esptein" target="_blank">unlock a crucial vote for his confirmation to be the nation's chief law enforcement officer.

For survivors, it was a historic first in their lengthy trek for justice.

• Blanche met with Epstein's victims on Thursday, after retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) signaled a sit-down with survivors was necessary before he would vote to advance the acting attorney general's nomination to the full Senate.
• A single Republican "no" vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Tillis serves, would halt Blanche's nomination.

What they're saying: Annie Farmer, an https://www.axios.com/2026/07/15/epstein-investigation-new-mexico-justice-department-us-doj" target="_blank">accuser of Epstein and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell said she found Blanche "abrasive, condescending, and intentionally noncommittal to survivors — a marked contrast to his public testimony during his confirmation hearing."

• She alleged in a statement that Blanche's explanations for his interview with Maxwell and https://www.axios.com/2025/08/01/ghislaine-maxwell-moved-minimum-security-prison-camp" target="_blank">her transfer to a minimum security prison camp were "wholly dissatisfactory and contrived."
• Dani Bensky, a survivor who testified against Blanche to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, https://x.com/Acyn/status/2077947833349710060" target="_blank">said in an interview with MS NOW that while she previously felt "a small glimmer of hope," the meeting was not "substantive" or "productive."
• "It had absolutely nothing to do with us," survivor Elizabeth Stein said, echoing her fellow survivors in an https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaNmGNpNOGI" target="_blank">interview. "It had everything to do with Blanche checking a box so that he can get a promotion."
• Stein said it was "demoralizing, to say the very least."

The other side: A DOJ spokesperson, however, described the meeting as a "productive, initial discussion" that was attended by Blanche, survivors, senior DOJ officials, FBI special agents and victim services representatives.

• "Acting AG Blanche answered questions and walked through what is needed for investigations to proceed," the spokesperson said in a statement provided to Axios, adding that Blanche encouraged victims to meet with FBI investigators "as the next step."

Catch up quick: "When it comes to the victims of this horrible man, we will never, never, not talk to victims," Blanche said during his confirmation hearing Wednesday.

• But Blanche also said he was "prohibited from meeting directly with" survivors, saying that he and others in the DOJ had met with attorneys representing them.
• But Benksy, who said the DOJ https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-epstein-files-trump-036f169b672bcbe0a9b5516e109b6af0" target="_blank">failed to redact her and other survivors' personal information in the released files, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-epstein-survivor-dani-bensky-says-blanche-has-never-responded-to-them-in-opening-statement" target="_blank">alleged during her testimony that Blanche had never responded to victims' requests to meet via multiple channels.
• "Todd Blanche has never attempted to listen to us," she said.

Axios' Josephine Walker contributed to this report.

Go deeper: https://www.axios.com/2025/12/22/trump-jeffrey-epstein-files-letter-congress-survivors" target="_blank">Epstein survivors criticize DOJ for failure to release all files