Blanche AG Confirmation Faces New Pressure As Epstein Survivors Urge GOP Senators To Vote No
Jeffrey Epstein survivors on Tuesday urged Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn to oppose confirming Todd Blanche as attorney general, calling a July 16 meeting with Blanche "gaslighting." MS NOW
Named signers included Dani Bensky and Annie Farmer, and the letter thanked Tillis while saying Blanche's conduct showed "disregard and contempt" for survivors.[1] The survivors also challenged Blanche's written Senate responses that said DOJ had produced "all known responsive records under the EFTA" and that he had met victims twice and offered a coordinator contact.[1]
President Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS in January 2026 that settled in May and created a roughly $1.776 to $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund.[2] A federal judge in Miami on July 13 found Trump's suit was filed for an "improper purpose," and Blanche defended DOJ's refusal to supply a sworn declaration ending the fund.[3]
Early coverage framed Blanche's fate as hinging on a small number of Republicans, with senators such as Thom Tillis and John Cornyn pressing him about the anti-weaponization fund.[4] But survivors' July 21 letter escalates pressure by asking Tillis and Cornyn to vote no and by calling a July 16 meeting with Blanche a "box-checking exercise." MS NOW
The mainstream summary does not fully capture the depth of the survivors' concerns, framing their letter as merely an escalation of pressure, while critics like Sarah Longwell emphasize the moral implications of elevating Blanche given his alleged involvement in covering up the Epstein scandal. Longwell's characterization of the potential confirmation as 'the most shameful thing' highlights a significant ethical dimension that the mainstream account overlooks. Additionally, while the summary mentions the survivors' claims about Blanche's conduct, it does not address the broader context of opposition from independent judges and over 1,200 DOJ alumni, as pointed out by Sen. Cory Booker, suggesting a more extensive coalition against his confirmation than the letter alone implies. This context indicates a growing unease among legal and political figures regarding Blanche's suitability for the role, which the mainstream summary does not adequately convey.
Show source details & analysis (8 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- Todd Blanche’s Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 8 a.m. Central before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- Democrats appear unified in opposing Blanche’s nomination, making his confirmation dependent on a small number of Republican defections in a narrowly divided chamber, according to reporting on the nomination fight (NPR).
- The Trump-IRS settlement created a roughly $1.776–$1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund that has been sharply contested: a federal judge rebuked the deal (July 13, 2026), Blanche told senators the fund is 'dead,' but he acknowledged the written settlement has not been amended and remains potentially enforceable, and a judge recently barred Blanche and DOJ No. 3 Stanley Woodward from citing the deal in formal proceedings (the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund).
- Todd Blanche, who has led the Justice Department since April 2026 after President Trump removed Pam Bondi and elevated him to acting attorney general, has overseen DOJ actions including indictments of former FBI Director James Comey and the Southern Poverty Law Center and an inquiry tied to E. Jean Carroll’s civil suits (Todd Blanche has led the Justice Department since April 2026).
- Jeffrey Epstein survivors — including Dani Bensky (who testified at the hearing) and Annie Farmer — described a July 16, 2026 meeting with Blanche as 'an hour of deflection, interruption, and gaslighting' and on July 21, 2026 sent a letter urging Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn to vote against his confirmation (Epstein survivors).
- At least two GOP senators — Sen. Thom Tillis and Sen. John Cornyn — were identified as pivotal undecided votes, with Tillis saying he was leaning yes only if Blanche met in person with Epstein survivors; the committee’s GOP margin was also narrowed by Sen. Lindsey Graham’s July 11, 2026 death, leaving a committee vote later in July uncertain (Sen. Thom Tillis and Sen. John Cornyn).
- Blanche told senators he did not speak with President Trump about the IRS settlement until after DOJ had decided not to move forward, he declined to say whether he advised Trump on the fund, and he defended DOJ’s refusal to provide a sworn written declaration to a court confirming the fund’s termination as consistent with 'longstanding' department practice (sworn written declaration).
- Blanche has received public backing from Republicans such as Senate Judiciary ranking member Chuck Grassley and law-enforcement groups like the National Association of Police Organizations, while Democrats accuse him of politicizing the department and weaponizing prosecutions (Todd Blanche faces high-stakes confirmation hearing for attorney general).
📰 Source Timeline (8)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
July 21, 2026
4:52 PM
Epstein survivors urge Republican senators to vote against attorney general nominee
New information:
- On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, a group of Jeffrey Epstein survivors sent a letter urging Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn to vote against confirming Todd Blanche as attorney general.
- The survivors described their July 16, 2026 meeting with Blanche as “an hour of deflection, interruption, and gaslighting” and a “box-checking exercise” arranged only after his confirmation was at risk.
- The letter explicitly thanks Tillis for seeking a “serious and meaningful” meeting but says Blanche’s conduct in the meeting shows “disregard and contempt” for survivors.
- Blanche’s newly released written responses to Senate Judiciary questions state that DOJ has produced “all known responsive records under the EFTA,” a position survivors, some members of Congress, and at least one federal court are contesting.
- Blanche reiterated in writing that he has met with Epstein victims or their counsel twice and that national coordinator Alessandra Serrano is available to meet with any victim and provided her contact information at the July 16 meeting.
- Named signatories to the July 21 letter include Dani Bensky, who testified at Blanche’s confirmation hearing, and Annie Farmer, who testified at Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2021 trial, along with other named and Jane Doe survivors.
July 17, 2026
9:00 AM
Blanche’s nomination for attorney general uncertain after hearing
New information:
- Article reports that after a contentious two-day Senate Judiciary hearing ending Thursday, July 16, 2026, Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general is formally described as uncertain, with at least two Republican committee members undecided.
- Sen. Thom Tillis reiterated he will not support Blanche’s nomination unless Blanche meets in person with Jeffrey Epstein survivors; the piece frames Tillis as a pivotal undecided vote whose "no" could block the nomination in committee.
- Sen. John Cornyn is identified as another key undecided Republican; he pressed Blanche at the hearing on why President Trump has not put in writing that the nearly $2 billion DOJ anti-weaponization fund is ended.
- Blanche again testified on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, that the anti-weaponization fund created in May as part of Trump’s IRS settlement is "dead," while maintaining that the president does not need to formally amend the written agreement.
- The article recounts that Trump publicly called the fund "a beautiful thing" and said he would have to "ask the lawyers" whether it was dead or merely on hold, highlighting ongoing tension between Trump’s statements and Blanche’s testimony.
- Sen. John Kennedy asked Blanche during the hearing if he and Trump were friends; Blanche initially answered "I’m his lawyer" before correcting himself to "I was his lawyer," a moment Democrats including Sen. Richard Blumenthal later cited to argue he would function as Trump’s personal attorney at DOJ.
- The report notes that some legal experts say Blanche could continue to serve as acting attorney general for the remainder of Trump’s term even without Senate confirmation because he had been the deputy attorney general, though experts disagree over whether there is a 250‑day time limit on that authority.
- Sen. Josh Hawley is quoted saying he supports Blanche and that allowing him to remain acting attorney general is "the only alternative" if the Senate does not confirm him, underscoring a possible path around a blocked nomination.
- The article states that a committee vote on Blanche’s nomination is likely later in July 2026 but that the outcome is now in question given GOP divisions.
July 15, 2026
11:34 PM
What Blanche said about Trump, Epstein files during confirmation hearing for attorney general
New information:
- During his July 15, 2026 Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing, Todd Blanche said he did not speak with President Trump about the IRS settlement until after DOJ had already decided the case would not move forward, describing that point as when the settlement was "dead."
- Blanche refused to answer Sen. Chris Coons' question about whether he had advised Trump against creating the nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, citing a practice of not discussing his conversations with the president.
- The article underscores that the Trump-IRS settlement granted Trump immunity from tax audits and created the anti-weaponization fund, and that a federal judge on Monday (July 13, 2026) found Trump's lawsuit was filed for an "improper purpose" that misused the court system.
- Multiple senators from both parties pressed Blanche on why DOJ has not provided a sworn written declaration to the court affirming that the anti-weaponization fund is terminated, and Blanche testified that DOJ declined to do so because of "longstanding" department practice, even after a judge requested such a declaration last month.
- Sen. Cory Booker described the hearing as a "performance review" and said Blanche had failed on issues including treatment of Epstein victims and politically motivated prosecutions, signaling explicit opposition to his confirmation.
4:00 PM
Blanche reiterates "anti-weaponization" fund is "dead" at confirmation hearing
New information:
- On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, during his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing, Todd Blanche stated the $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund created in the Trump-IRS settlement is a 'moot issue' and 'dead,' saying no Treasury money has been transferred.
- Blanche acknowledged that the written settlement agreement on file in federal court has not been amended and still states that its terms 'may be modified only upon the written agreement of the parties,' and no such written modification has been executed.
- Under questioning from Sen. John Cornyn, Blanche conceded the settlement remains an 'enforceable document' and that President Trump's lawyers could potentially claim the Justice Department breached the agreement by not moving forward with the fund, though he said they cannot force DOJ to implement it and he is unaware of any plan to sue.
- Blanche's testimony followed a federal judge in Miami earlier in the week rebuking the IRS case, sanctioning a Trump attorney, and barring Blanche and DOJ No. 3 Stanley Woodward from citing the deal's provisions as evidence of a settlement in any formal proceeding.
12:04 PM
Acting AG Todd Blanche faces a key test. And, ICE pauses most traffic stops
New information:
- The NPR piece reiterates that Blanche's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 9 a.m. Eastern and frames it as a key test of his nomination.
- The article foregrounds that Democrats are unified against Blanche and that a small number of GOP defections could block confirmation, but does not add specific new whip counts or named undecided Republicans beyond what is already known.
- Epstein survivors, including Dani Bensky, are expected to testify before the committee against Blanche's nomination, adding victim-participation detail not previously emphasized in the existing summary.
10:00 AM
Blanche to testify today at Senate confirmation hearing for attorney general
New information:
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee at 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, for his confirmation hearing.
- CBS identifies Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn as the main Republican skeptics to watch on the panel over the $1.776–$1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund created in the Trump-IRS settlement.
- Tillis told reporters on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, that he is currently leaning yes on Blanche's nomination if he is satisfied with Blanche's answers on the fund and settlement.
- The article notes GOP control of the Judiciary Committee has been narrowed by Sen. Lindsey Graham's July 11, 2026 death and that it is not yet clear whether his appointed successor, Darline Graham, will assume his committee seats in time for the hearing.
- CBS reiterates that Blanche is expected to face questions not only on the fund but also on DOJ's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and prosecutions of perceived Trump political adversaries, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
9:00 AM
Todd Blanche faces high-stakes confirmation hearing for attorney general
New information:
- NPR reports that Todd Blanche’s attorney general confirmation hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The article states that Democrats appear unified in opposing Blanche’s nomination, making his confirmation dependent on a small group of Republican senators in a narrowly divided chamber.
- It notes that Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas, both Republicans on the Judiciary Committee, have publicly raised concerns about the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund embedded in Trump’s IRS tax-leak settlement.
- NPR reports that on Monday, July 13, 2026, a federal judge criticized the DOJ–Trump IRS settlement, calling it an attempt to earmark billions of taxpayer dollars to address grievances not defined in law.
- The piece details that Blanche has led DOJ since April 2026 after Trump removed Attorney General Pam Bondi and elevated Blanche to acting attorney general.
- It adds that under Blanche’s leadership, DOJ has brought indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and the Southern Poverty Law Center, and opened an investigation focused on E. Jean Carroll’s civil lawsuits against Trump.
- The article quotes Senate Judiciary Committee ranking Republican Chuck Grassley calling Blanche “well qualified” and praising his dedication to restoring law and order, and notes backing from the National Association of Police Organizations.
- Democrats are described as accusing Blanche of politicizing DOJ, weaponizing prosecutions against Trump’s perceived enemies, and undermining the department’s independence from the White House.
July 14, 2026