Epstein Victims Call Meeting with Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche a ‘Show’
Several victims of the Jeffrey Epstein case have described their recent meeting with Todd Blanche, the acting US Attorney General, as more of a ceremonial act aimed at winning the support of senators than a serious effort to pursue justice. They called the meeting ‘insulting’ and ‘performative’.
According to a report by the American news website Axios, the session took place last Thursday. The victims said Blanche spent much of the time providing vague and evasive answers, and there was no deep or specific discussion about the continuation of legal proceedings.
They believe the meeting was primarily held to appease Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican, who had stated that his positive vote on Blanche’s confirmation in the Senate Judiciary Committee was conditional on Blanche meeting with the victims. Even one Republican member opposing the committee vote could have hindered Blanche’s confirmation process.
Annie Farmer, one of the victims, stated that Blanche’s behavior during the meeting was noticeably different from his public remarks at the Senate hearing, describing him as ‘arrogant and uncommitted to the victims.’ Danny Pinsky also told the media that the meeting yielded no tangible results and diminished his prior hopes. Elizabeth Stein said the meeting seemed more related to Blanche’s promotion process than addressing the victims’ demands.
In contrast, a spokesperson for the US Department of Justice described the meeting as ‘preliminary and constructive,’ stating that Blanche answered questions and explained the requirements for continuing the investigation. According to the spokesperson, senior Justice Department officials, FBI special agents, and representatives from victim support services were also present at the meeting.
During the meeting, Blanche acknowledged that he could not guarantee the opening of new cases. He emphasized that if new information emerges, further investigations will be conducted. However, at present, the government does not have sufficient evidence to prosecute any additional individuals connected to Epstein’s circle.
