Epstein survivor Dani Bensky tells Senate Judiciary panel Todd Blanche “has never responded” in remarks urging senators to consider “the girls in these photos”

Dani Bensky, who says she survived Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse, urged senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee to reconsider their votes as they proceed with the confirmation of attorney general nominee Todd Blanche, according to testimony highlighted by PBS NewsHour. Bensky told the committee that Blanche has “never responded” to her and other survivors “in opening statement,” and she implored senators to “think about the girls in these photos.”

Bensky’s remarks were delivered in the context of Blanche’s role as a nominee for attorney general, placing her comments directly into the committee’s confirmation process. Her testimony centered on whether senators consider survivors’ experiences and the human stakes behind the legal and government roles at issue, with Bensky pointing to abuse-related imagery referenced during the hearing.

In the PBS NewsHour segment, Bensky’s account framed her central complaint as a lack of response from Blanche toward survivors. She characterized this as a point senators should weigh when casting votes tied to the nominee, and she directed attention to what she said are the victims in “these photos.”

The exchange reflects a recurring feature of high-profile confirmations, where lawmakers and nominees face questions not only about prosecutorial and legal credentials, but also about how nominees handle sensitive allegations and prior interactions described by victims and advocates. In Bensky’s testimony, the emphasis was on communication and accountability toward survivors rather than on a specific policy proposal.

For senators considering a nominee for attorney general, the committee stage remains part of a formal constitutional process that includes vetting by the Judiciary Committee and votes to advance the nomination. Bensky’s testimony added a survivor-focused perspective to the record the committee and the full Senate may rely on as they move through the remaining steps.

The claims in Bensky’s remarks are attributed to her statements in the PBS NewsHour coverage. The record described in the PBS item does not include, in the provided summary, a direct response from Blanche addressing Bensky’s complaint about not responding in opening statement, nor does it provide documentary or court-backed detail beyond Bensky’s statements.

As the confirmation timeline continues, senators are expected to weigh a range of evidence and testimony while the nomination proceeds through the next procedural stages. Bensky’s remarks are likely to remain part of the public hearing record, which lawmakers can cite when explaining their votes and questions for the nominee.