More than two decades after her exploitation by Jeffrey Epstein, survivor and advocate Danielle Bensky has publicly criticized the handling of Epstein-related prosecutions and the actions of former Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who is currently a nominee for U.S. attorney general. In testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 16, Bensky detailed her concerns about the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) management of Epstein’s trafficking case and the subsequent release of sensitive information.
Bensky recounted meeting Epstein as a 17-year-old aspiring ballerina in New York City, describing how he exploited her vulnerability amid family hardship for his own sexual abuse. While Epstein and his former associate Ghislaine Maxwell have faced prosecution, Bensky emphasized that over a thousand women and girls were reportedly abused within Epstein’s network, yet no additional individuals have been charged. She criticized the DOJ for not pursuing further investigations or prosecutions despite the evidence and leads contained in the released files.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act was intended to shed light on the full scope of Epstein’s criminal activities and the identities of those complicit. However, Bensky and other survivors allege that the DOJ’s release of the documents was mismanaged, with the agency disclosing survivors’ names, contact information, former addresses, and explicit images while heavily redacting the names of alleged abusers and enablers. She described this as a "troubling" imbalance that compromised victims’ privacy without advancing accountability.
According to Bensky, Blanche, who oversaw the release of the files, did not engage with her or several other survivors during the process, despite claims that he met with representatives of some accusers. She also highlighted Blanche’s extensive nine-hour meeting with Maxwell before her transfer to a low-security prison, questioning the priorities of his management. Blanche reportedly maintained in his testimony that there was insufficient evidence to support additional prosecutions beyond Epstein and Maxwell, a position that Bensky and other advocates dispute.
Following Bensky’s Senate testimony, Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, expressed hesitation about supporting Blanche’s confirmation unless he met directly with survivors. Blanche’s meeting with Bensky and other advocates was arranged at the last minute and described by Bensky as superficial, lacking meaningful answers or commitments to further investigations or to safeguarding survivors from future privacy breaches. Blanche reportedly redirected survivors to the FBI without indicating any new plans for accountability.
Bensky called on senators to reject Blanche’s nomination, emphasizing the need for an attorney general who listens to survivors, prioritizes justice, and protects vulnerable individuals. She argued that the justice system has repeatedly failed Epstein’s victims and that a change in leadership is necessary to restore trust and ensure comprehensive responses to human trafficking and sexual abuse cases.
As Blanche’s confirmation proceeds, the concerns raised by Bensky and other survivors continue to fuel debate over the adequacy of the federal government’s response to one of the most high-profile sex trafficking cases in recent history.