government
Key GOP senator says Todd Blanche needs to meet with Epstein victims before winning his support
By CNN at KVIA ABC-7
· July 16, 2026
· 5 min read
CNN
By Hannah Rabinowitz, Holmes Lybrand, MJ Lee, Morgan Rimmer, CNN
(CNN) — A key Republican whose yes vote would be needed to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general said Thursday that Blanche needs to meet with victims of Jeffrey Epstein before he would be in favor of Preside...
Key takeaway Thom Tillis said that while he had a positive disposition toward Blanche, he has not made a final decision on the nomination.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The nomination of Todd Blanche as attorney general has significant implications for Texans, particularly in light of Senator John Cornyn's involvement in the process. As a key Republican senator from Texas, Cornyn's vote will be crucial in determining the fate of Blanche's nomination. Cornyn's recent loss in the Republican primary may give him more flexibility in his decision-making, and his comments on the "anti-weaponization" fund suggest that he is still closely scrutinizing Blanche's proposals. El Pasoans will be watching closely to see how Cornyn navigates this nomination, particularly given the city's own experiences with federal law enforcement and justice issues. The fact that a meeting between Blanche and Epstein survivors is being arranged may also resonate with El Paso 's own survivors of crime and abuse, who may be eager to see how the nominee approaches issues of justice and accountability.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: government ·
Published: July 16, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 5 min
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What is this story about? CNN
By Hannah Rabinowitz, Holmes Lybrand, MJ Lee, Morgan Rimmer, CNN
(CNN) — A key Republican whose yes vote would be needed to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general said Thursday that Blanche needs to meet with victims of Jeffrey Epstein before he would be in favor of Preside...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 16, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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