WASHINGTON — The acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, met Thursday with victims and relatives of victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a key Republican lawmaker insisted he would not advance Blanche’s nomination to serve in the job permanently unless he did so.

Some victims at the meeting called it unhelpful and infuriating, while a Justice Department official said it was productive.

Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina made the demand during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday for witnesses to discuss Blanche’s nomination. For months, a group of Epstein survivors had tried unsuccessfully to meet with Blanche.

Hours after Tillis’ comments, Blanche privately met with some victims eager to share their frustrations about how the Justice Department had handled the release of the Epstein files, and press the agency to more aggressively investigate.

The meeting came as Blanche seeks to tread a narrow path to confirmation in a Senate with a small Republican majority that has increasingly been frustrated by the Trump administration.

Blanche Falls Short, Say Two Victims

Two of the attendees sharply criticized Blanche’s conduct during the meeting, saying it fell far short of what they wanted from the Justice Department, and urged senators to vote against Blanche.

Dani Bensky said the acting attorney general “treated the meeting as a mere ‘check-the-box’ exercise intended to secure votes for his confirmation.”

Another woman who met with Blanche was blunt in her criticism.

“I found him abrasive, condescending and intentionally noncommittal to survivors, a marked contrast to his public testimony during his confirmation hearing,” said Annie Farmer.

A Justice Department spokesperson called the meeting productive and said Blanche answered questions, explained the investigative process and encouraged follow-up discussions with FBI agents.

Tillis, who is retiring next year, has spoken favorably about Blanche’s nomination, including Wednesday, when Blanche appeared before the committee for his confirmation hearing. But Thursday, Tillis laid out a new condition related to the Epstein case, which has become a political albatross for both President Donald Trump and the Justice Department leadership, including Blanche.

If Democrats on the Judiciary Committee all vote against Blanche, a single Republican “no” could sink his nomination.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

By Devlin Barrett/Kenny Holston

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