Deputy AG Blanche: 'It's Not a Crime to Party' With Epstein

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Fox News on Feb. 2 that “it’s not a crime to party with Mr. Epstein,” a remark that drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers and some conservative commentators, The Hill reported.¹

Blanche made the comment during an interview on “The Ingraham Angle,” hosted by Laura Ingraham, in a segment about the release of documents related to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and whether his associates would face charges.²

The Comment

Ingraham asked Blanche whether “any of these individuals who partied with Epstein and engaged in, you know, relations with minors” would be prosecuted.²

“Well, look, I’ll never say no, and we will always investigate any evidence of misconduct, but as you know, it’s not a crime to party with Mr. Epstein,” Blanche replied. “So as horrible as it — it’s not a crime to email with Mr. Epstein.”³

He added that “some of these men may have done horrible things, and if we have evidence that allows us to prosecute them, you better believe we will.”² Blanche also said the Department of Justice had released its videos and that they did not show improper conduct with victims.² Ingraham pushed back, telling him that some of the released photos “look pretty bad.”⁴

The statement was quickly seized upon by critics who said the deputy attorney general was minimizing the severity of Epstein’s crimes and the culpability of those who associated with him.

Political Fallout

Democrats in Congress moved quickly to condemn the comment. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) said he was “highly disturbed that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche just got the law wrong,” arguing that “if Jeffrey Epstein was human trafficking minors for these sex parties, and you show up and patronize the establishment at that party, yes, you’re guilty, because patronizing is part of the law, the federal sex trafficking law.”⁵

Lieu said Blanche “needs to resign, not only for not knowing the law but for a massive screwup — the biggest privacy violation in history.”⁵

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) responded on social media: “Sir, yes it is a crime. And, prosecuting these crimes is your job.”³

Reaction

The clip of Blanche’s comment spread quickly on social media. Critics said his framing downplayed evidence that Epstein used social events to introduce powerful figures to young women and girls.

Some conservative commentators also voiced discomfort. Evan Kilgore called it “horrible messaging from the Trump Administration,” adding, “I’m in shock how tone deaf this is.” Another commentator, Brian Allen, wrote: “Horrible optics. Worse values. This isn’t justice, it’s moral rot dressed up as legalism.”³

References

1. The Hill — “Blanche: ‘It isn’t a crime to party with Mr. Epstein’”
2. Mediaite — “Deputy AG Tells Fox News ‘It Isn’t a Crime to Party With Mr. Epstein’”
3. Newsweek — “Trump DOJ official saying ‘not a crime’ to party with Epstein sparks fury”
4. The New Republic — “Top Trump Official Insists It’s ‘Not a Crime to Party’ With Epstein”
5. Mediaite — “Ted Lieu on Trump: It Was a Crime to Party With Epstein”