Key facts
- Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse are concerned that Todd Blanche's potential confirmation as attorney general could hinder their pursuit of justice.
- They allege Blanche's past actions as acting attorney general involved missteps, including the disclosure of survivor information while protecting accused abusers.
- Legal experts suggest a Blanche-led Justice Department might suppress investigations and prevent accountability for individuals in Epstein's orbit.
- The Justice Department stated Blanche met with victims and encouraged cooperation with the FBI.
- Advocates remain hopeful that survivors can still find justice through continued efforts.
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse have voiced significant concerns regarding the potential confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general, fearing it would impede their pursuit of justice. Blanche, a former defense lawyer for Donald Trump, is reportedly on track for the position.
In a letter to Republican senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn, survivors detailed perceived missteps during Blanche's tenure as acting attorney general. They claim that while documents related to the Epstein case were disclosed, survivor names were revealed, but the names of alleged abusers and enablers were omitted. Survivors also highlighted that only Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell faced charges, despite over 1,000 victims. A recent meeting with survivors was described as an hour of "deflection, interruption and gaslighting."
Legal veterans and survivors' advocates suggest that a Justice Department led by Blanche could lead to "more suppression and no active investigations" into Epstein's sex-trafficking network, as suggested by Bryan Sullivan, a partner at Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae. Ron Kuby, a civil rights defense lawyer, echoed these sentiments, stating that it means "no other perpetrators will be held criminally liable." Carl Tobias, a law professor, noted that even without confirmation, Blanche could serve as acting attorney general, retaining significant power over the case.
Attorneys acknowledge that legal avenues outside the Justice Department exist but are challenging. Filing lawsuits for non-responsive public records requests is a lengthy process, and winning cases against federal authorities for their handling of the Epstein investigation is described as "exceptionally difficult."
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended Blanche's performance as acting attorney general. A Justice Department spokesperson stated that Blanche met with victims and encouraged them to engage with FBI investigators, describing the discussion as productive. Gretchen Carlson and Julie Roginsky, co-founders of the advocacy group Lift Our Voices, expressed hope that survivors could still achieve justice, despite potential setbacks.