Todd Blanche Meets Epstein Victims as 1 Republican Vote Could Stall AG Nomination

Q: What loophole could revive the supposedly dead $1.8 billion Justice Department fund?

The main loophole is that the fund’s legal foundation appears to remain intact even though Todd Blanche says it is “dead.” Senators’ concern is that the settlement agreement that created the $1.8 billion fund has not been formally rescinded, and Blanche has declined to state in court filings that the fund is permanently terminated. That matters because the agreement’s language reportedly still leaves room for future activation or modification by the parties. Critics argue that, on paper, the fund can still exist unless the Justice Department formally withdraws or voids the settlement terms. Cornyn’s concern is precisely that verbal assurances are not the same as a binding legal shutdown. The risk is heightened by Blanche’s refusal to put the fund’s demise in writing and by the department’s resistance to a more permanent court-ordered block. Judges have already signaled skepticism that public statements alone are enough to prevent the fund from resurfacing. There is also concern that, even if this specific fund does not move forward, similar payouts could be pursued through other legal channels, including existing federal claims mechanisms such as the Judgment Fund or the Federal Tort Claims Act. That is why senators are focused not just on Blanche’s testimony, but on whether the underlying settlement language is formally closed off.

3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jul 17

Hours after Sen. Thom Tillis demanded it, Todd Blanche met Jeffrey Epstein victims, satisfying Tillis’ immediate condition for considering his attorney general nomination.
1 victim, Danielle Bensky, called the session “insufficient,” saying Blanche treated it as a confirmation-box exercise, interrupted survivors and failed to account for a files release that exposed identifying information.
The Justice Department said Blanche, senior officials, FBI agents and victim-services staff held a productive initial discussion, urged victims to speak with investigators and began scheduling follow-up interviews.
Tillis praised Blanche for meeting victims but still has not said how he will vote; with Democrats expected to oppose, 1 Republican defection on the Judiciary Committee could block the nomination from reaching the Senate floor.