At the July 15, 2026 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Todd Blanche’s nomination to be Attorney General, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said ten survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse were in the room, that none had been able to speak to anyone at the Justice Department or the FBI though they had asked repeatedly, and asked Blanche, the acting Attorney General, for his word under oath that he would personally meet them within 30 days.
In the clip, in order: Blanche said somebody there could meet them that day. Durbin: “I think you ought to be in the room because you ought to hear this.” Blanche: “I am definitely part of it, and I have been from day one.” Asked whether he would notify the committee once he had met them, Blanche said he was not sure he was allowed to if there is an ongoing investigation; Durbin: “you’re dancing on the head of a pin”; Blanche: “I’m not dancing on any pin.” Durbin asked again about 30 days (“you can say yes,” he said as Blanche cut in); Blanche said he can meet them, his staff will, and that if they have lawyers he is not allowed to meet them directly. He then said the FBI, prosecutors “who are experts in this space” and “me if necessary” will meet them, “I promise you this.” Durbin: “I hope you will do it immediately or we’re gonna hold you to it.”
Background: the no-contact rule (American Bar Association Model Rule 4.2, which states adopt in their own versions) generally bars a lawyer from discussing a matter with a person who has a lawyer in it unless that lawyer agrees or a law or court order allows it; federal prosecutors are subject to state ethics rules under a federal law, 28 U.S. Code 530B. The hearing did not decide whether it covers these survivors.
Left out, in order. Before the clip, Durbin said Congress had to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act (Public Law 119-38, signed Nov. 19, 2025) to force the files out; Blanche said some documents could not be produced under existing law and the department complied once it was signed. Inside the clip: (1) After the 30-day request, Blanche said a colleague who leads the department’s human trafficking task force could talk to them, and that he has “never said I will not meet with survivors.” Asked on the record, he said that if they have lawyers he cannot meet them directly, that he and others have met the survivors’ lawyers, and that if they have none he will arrange for the right people to meet them. Durbin: “Will you get it done?” Blanche: “Absolutely.” On 30 days: “I will get it done today if that’s necessary.” (2) Durbin said Blanche has had “singular responsibility for these files,” that there is “a delay in meeting the statutory requirement on disclosure,” and “You were involved in that.” (3) After “from day one,” Blanche said it “could have gotten done last week” and that the department remains available to meet any victim or their representative at any time. On notifying the committee he first said that would be prohibited by law if an investigation is ongoing, then, asked again, “It depends on what they said.” (4) After the pin exchange, Durbin said the survivors had the courage to tell the committee their stories and asked about a prompt response; Blanche: “Absolutely. And there will be a prompt response. My heart breaks for every survivor, every victim of Mr. Epstein,” and he would love to prosecute anyone who harmed them. (5) Blanche also said “We have a staff member here”; Durbin: “If you can meet with them, will you meet with them?”; Blanche: “I’m not sure what you’re looking for me to say. As I said, yes,” then the line about lawyers the clip shows. (6) After “I promise you this,” Blanche said he will stay updated on any victim with information about others who worked with Epstein. Filler words and false starts are cut.
Sources: Senate Judiciary Committee hearing video, July 15, 2026; Public Law 119-38; 28 U.S. Code 530B; American Bar Association Model Rule 4.2 and Business Law Today, Dec. 16, 2022; Indiana Rule 4.2.
Sources: Senate Judiciary Committee, July 15, 2026, “The Nomination of the Honorable Todd Blanche to be Attorney General of the United States” (at 1:15:24).
The record: Senate Judiciary Committee: The Nomination of the Honorable Todd Blanche to be Attorney General of the United States, July 15, 2026 (hearing video); Epstein Files Transparency Act, Public Law 119-38, approved Nov. 19, 2025 (GovInfo); American Bar Association Model Rule of Professional Conduct 4.2: Communication with Person Represented by Counsel; Business Law Today (American Bar Association Business Law Section), Dec. 16, 2022: A Renewed Emphasis on the American Bar Association’s Model Rule 4.2; 28 U.S. Code 530B, ethical standards for attorneys for the Government (Cornell Legal Information Institute); Indiana Rule of Professional Conduct 4.2, communication with a person represented by counsel (a state version of the ABA Model Rule).
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