A group of Jeffrey Epstein abuse survivors has released a video urging senators to reject Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, citing alleged mishandling of case files.
In the video, posted by the campaign group World Without Exploitation, the survivors stated that Blanche had a duty to protect them but instead "protected the people who committed crimes against us." They highlighted concerns about the release of sensitive information, including nude photographs of victims and information that could be used to trace them, while the names of powerful individuals mentioned in the documents remained protected.
"Thirty years, 1,200 victims, and 6 million files — a mountain of evidence. But Todd Blanche says there are no investigative leads," the survivors said in the video. "Todd Blanche failed us. He failed victims everywhere. We deserve better. Our country deserves better."
Blanche, who previously served as Trump's defense attorney in several high-profile cases, was promoted to acting attorney general in April after Trump fired Pam Bondi. He is slated for a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he is expected to face questions regarding the Justice Department's management of the Epstein case files.
Questions surrounding the handling of the files have drawn criticism from various sides. Blanche's predecessor reportedly blamed him for mishandling the release of certain documents, including FBI interview notes concerning an allegation of sexual assault against Trump in the 1980s. During a House Appropriations Committee hearing last month, Blanche's department was accused of withholding over 3 million Epstein-related documents.
Survivor Liz Stein told NBC News that the Department of Justice's actions in handling the case should be a concern for all Americans, questioning how victims of crime would feel about coming forward if they believed the DOJ would not protect them.
In addition to the survivors' concerns, over 1,200 former Department of Justice employees have cited what they describe as a "culture of fear" under Blanche's leadership. Stacey Young, executive director of Justice Connection, stated in a press release that Blanche's actions as Deputy Attorney General have consistently shown "fealty to the President, not the Constitution."