President Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, Todd Blanche, faces a significant hurdle in his confirmation process as Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina has declared he will not support the nomination until Blanche meets with women who allege they were abused by Jeffrey Epstein. These accusers have reportedly sought a meeting with Blanche for months without success.
The nomination is currently under consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is preparing to vote on whether to advance the pick to the full Senate floor. The situation is complicated by the recent death of Sen. Lindsey Graham on July 11, which left the committee with an 11-10 Republican majority. Given the narrow margins, Tillis’s refusal to support the nomination could effectively stall the process unless Blanche agrees to the meeting. "I'm trying to get to yes, but this is a very important part of getting to yes," Tillis stated regarding his position.
Senator John Cornyn, another influential Republican on the committee, has also signaled hesitation. When asked on July 16 about the requirement for Blanche to meet with the accusers, Cornyn noted, "I think it would be good to do that, yeah." During hearings on July 15, Cornyn questioned Blanche—who is currently serving as acting attorney general—about a controversial May settlement involving the Department of Justice. The agreement allowed Donald Trump, his two eldest sons, and his business to drop a lawsuit in exchange for potential relief from past tax liabilities and the creation of an "anti-weaponization" fund, which critics suggest could have supported individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Cornyn expressed skepticism during the hearing, noting the unusual nature of the settlement, particularly given arguments that the Trump family had missed filing deadlines. Furthermore, Florida federal Judge Kathleen Williams, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, issued a court order on July 13 describing the settlement as an attempt to improperly confer immunity and earmark taxpayer funds for unclear grievances.
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois praised the efforts of the accusers, specifically crediting Dani Bensky for her testimony and the group of women who attended the hearing in solidarity. Durbin remarked that their courage in standing up was instrumental in prompting Senator Tillis to advocate for the meeting, calling it a "dramatic work in progress." With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the full Senate, the loss of any four Republican votes would effectively defeat the nomination.
