Acting Attorney General Affirms Commitment to Investigate Epstein Connections
On Wednesday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed assertions that the Justice Department has fully explored Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. He emphasized that prosecutors are ready to take action against anyone connected to the late financier’s sex trafficking operations, should new evidence emerge.
Blanche asserted, “There is no private investigation.” He suggested that if, at any point, new names from Epstein’s records came to light, the department would act on them. “You better believe, and so should we,” he added.
These remarks were made during a Senate confirmation hearing amidst ongoing scrutiny regarding how the Trump administration handled Epstein’s case. Notably, he highlighted that the investigation concluded in July 2025 under then-Attorney General Pam Bondi, which determined there was no evidence of a “client list” related to Epstein and that no further disclosures were warranted, triggering calls from some Trump supporters for the release of remaining Epstein documents. Blanche has since defended this decision amid growing backlash.
Making a clear distinction, Blanche noted that while the investigation into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who passed away in federal custody in 2019, has concluded, the Justice Department is still willing to look into and prosecute additional individuals if credible evidence surfaces.
He also refuted claims that the department is neglecting Epstein’s victims, stating that officials have engaged with representatives of over 30 victims since the investigation began. “We never stop talking to victims,” he said, adding that the department is committed to justice for those impacted.
When pressed by Senator Richard Blumenthal about the department’s handling of the released documents, which required redactions in about 1% of cases, Blanche offered an apology. “The mistakes we made, we shouldn’t have made,” he stated, while also clarifying that affected documents were swiftly removed, with legal teams working continuously to address errors.
Questions about private meetings with Epstein survivors were also raised. Blanche affirmed that meetings could certainly occur, particularly if a victim’s attorney was involved in coordinating them. “Of course you can meet them,” he asserted.
Senator John Kennedy, a Republican, expressed concerns regarding the future of the Epstein case and asked Blanche if there might be indictments related to other individuals identified in Epstein’s files. Blanche responded that while evidence is under review, no new suspects have been established; however, he acknowledged that this doesn’t rule out the possibility of other implicated persons.
Senator Cory Booker inquired about a meeting that Blanche had with Ghislaine Maxwell in July 2025, seeking clarification on any potential charges stemming from that interaction. Blanche stated that no new charges arose from that meeting and refrained from commenting on whether it might have prompted further investigations.
Throughout the hearing, Blanche stood firm on the Justice Department’s commitment to pursue justice for victims and invited anyone with new or supporting evidence to share it with the FBI.
