Todd Blanche’s botched release of the Epstein Files outed survivors while protecting predators. 35,000+ Americans see this for what it is. Absolutely disqualifying.

Sen. SCHIFF: Is it appropriate for a president to call on the Attorney General to prosecute enemies? Former Republican attorney general: He is in charge of enforcing the law. Schiff: You don’t seem to have a problem with that, do you? AG: That includes his enemies.

Sen. BOOKER: Todd Blanche met with Ghislaine Maxwell and she was transferred to minimum security. Does that happen? Former DOJ pardon attorney: It’d be a violation of DOJ’s own rules. Booker: How do you feel? Epstein survivor: It’s devastating for survivors. Booker: It’s insulting.

Sen. TILLIS: I have not made a final decision. Todd Blanche said he’d meet with the Epstein survivors if it could be arranged. I expect that meeting to occur before I’m willing to vote him out of committee. There should be no reason why he wouldn’t.

Epstein survivor: We talk about Todd Blanche’s credentials. As a career prosecutor, he should be salivating. This case is gold. 6 million files and thousands of victims. Durbin: Why won’t he meet with you? Survivor: Reputational harm.

Epstein survivor: Todd Blanche’s actions have destroyed survivors’ trust. He spent nine hours with Ghislaine Maxwell, but he didn’t spend even nine minutes meeting with a survivor.

Former DOJ pardon attorney: I had great hope Todd Blanche would be a responsible steward of the Justice Department. He quickly proved me wrong. I declined to rubberstamp a political favor for a friend of Donald Trump, and it cost me my job.

Epstein survivor: I found my name in two places in the first Epstein Files release. In the next release, the redactions were far worse. The Files displayed my name, phone number, and more. These documents contain disturbing yet incomplete accounts of my abuse. It was humiliating.

Sen. DURBIN: I will never forget Todd Blanche’s hearing yesterday. He was asked if he’d meet with Epstein’s victims. In my office, he said yes. In the hearing, he said no. I met with them. I’ll never forget it. No single member of the Senate should vote for him if they met with the survivors.

Dani Bensky is a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse. She tried multiple times to have her information redacted from the Epstein Files. Todd Blanche’s failure retraumatized her.

Brother of Virginia Giuffre: Survivors deserve answers, not silence. If the goal is justice, if the goal is identifying everyone responsible for exploiting children, why wouldn't you do everything possible to help uncover the truth and hold every perpetrator accountable?

Epstein survivor: We have asked to meet with Todd Blanche repeatedly, and we have never heard anything. That radio silence is deafening.

Epstein survivor: We urge Senators Tillis and Cornyn to vote no on Todd Blanche’s nomination.

Sen. SCHIFF: Did you write the Trump immunity provision? Blanche: No. Schiff: But you put your name to it? Blanche: I did. Schiff: Who wrote this? Blanche: DOJ. I don’t know the name. Schiff: Who rejected the 25 defenses the IRS had? Blanche: There was a lot of discussion.

Sen. WHITEHOUSE: Here’s a word cloud of the commentary made by federal judges about your Justice Department. They’re red flag words. Can you say this misconduct will stop? Blanche: *dodges* Whitehouse: I will tell you that you are wrong.

🤔

Sen. WELCH: I have concerns about Kash Patel from reports about his drinking and bad morale at FBI. You are his supervisor. Blanche: I don’t think he has any issues drinking.

Sen. PADILLA: Is every life sacred? Blanche: Yes. Padilla: Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, Johan Sebastián Guerrero were killed by ICE. Should state agencies be involved in investigations? Blanche: Depends. Padilla: Alex Pretti, Renee Good were also shot. There’s been no justice.

Sen. BOOKER: Survivors of Epstein’s abuse reported crimes decades ago. You won’t meet with them, but you did meet with Ghislaine Maxwell. Did your interview with Maxwell lead to a single new person being charged? Blanche: No. Booker: A new investigation? Blanche: *dodges*

Sen. HIRONO: Do you believe it’s the president’s right and duty to investigate perceived enemies? Blanche: He is in charge of the Department of Justice. Hirono: What he meant was pretty clear.

Sen. COONS: How many January 6th rioters were convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers? Blanche: ~120. Coons: 200+. How many had their sentences commuted or were pardoned? Blanche: Every one. Coons: The pardons are a shameful slap in the face to law enforcement.

Sen. DURBIN: Donald Trump pardoned rioters who went on to commit serious crimes. Do you think the blanket pardons were appropriate? Blanche: He has that power—I don’t question his authority or decision. Durbin: You don’t question the decision? Blanche: *dodges*

Sen. WHITEHOUSE: How long do you intend to put up with Kash Patel? Are you good with his airplane jaunts, confident he’s not drinking on the job, sure he knows what he’s doing? Blanche: I have full faith in Director Patel. Whitehouse: Great. You get to own that.

Sen. KLOBUCHAR: People want accountability for ICE shootings, even the non-death cases. Someone was picked out of his house in underwear in -10 degree weather without a warrant. Is that unacceptable? Blanche: That depends on the circumstances.

Todd Blanche just said the quiet part out loud. He is DONALD TRUMP’S LAWYER—not yours.

Sen. DURBIN: There are ten Epstein survivors with us today, who have had no chance to speak with you. Will you meet with them? Blanche: I have somebody from my office they can meet with. Durbin: Will YOU meet with these survivors? Blanche: *dodges*

Sen. DURBIN: This nation deserves an Attorney General who loves the Constitution more than he loves the President. Mr. Blanche, you have proven beyond a reasonable doubt you are not that person.

Todd BLANCHE: I love working for President Trump. It’s the greatest honor of a lifetime. Thank you very much. I love you, sir.