ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A group of North Carolina survivors of sex trafficking and anti-trafficking advocates is urging U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis to oppose President Donald Trump’s nomination of Todd Blanche as U.S. attorney general, arguing his handling of the Justice Department’s review of records related to Jeffrey Epstein raises concerns about the department’s independence and its treatment of crime victims.

The Senate Judiciary Committee was holding a confirmation hearing Wednesday on Blanche’s nomination. Tillis, R-N.C., is a member of the committee.

Blanche served as Trump’s personal criminal defense attorney before joining the Department of Justice.

In a letter to Tillis, the signers criticize Blanche’s handling of the Justice Department’s review and release of records related to Epstein, the financier who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. They argue the department has not fully released records related to the investigation and raise concerns about its handling of victim information and the pace of its review.

The letter also alleges the Justice Department improperly withheld or redacted records related to President Trump’s past association with Epstein. The Justice Department has disputed allegations that political considerations influenced its review of the files.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Blanche was expected to defend the department’s handling of the Epstein records, acknowledge mistakes that exposed some victims’ identifying information and say any new evidence of criminal conduct would be investigated. He has also said the department had completed its review of the records released to date.

The signers urged Tillis to vote against Blanche’s confirmation, arguing the attorney general must act independently and prioritize the interests of crime victims.

In a response to 828newsNOW, which contacted his office about the nomination, Tillis did not indicate how he plans to vote but said he takes the Senate’s constitutional role in evaluating executive branch nominees seriously.

“I strongly believe that the duty of vetting executive branch nominees is one of the most important tasks I have as a United States senator,” Tillis wrote. “The American people deserve public officials who will faithfully uphold the Constitution and enforce the law fairly and impartially.”

Tillis said he must be convinced that nominees are qualified and possess “the integrity, judgment, and temperament necessary” to serve. He added that nominees should demonstrate a commitment to the rule of law and deserve to be treated fairly throughout the confirmation process.

“As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I take my role in evaluating nominees very seriously, and I will continue to support the thorough vetting of all nominees to ensure they are qualified to serve the American people,” Tillis wrote. “Please know, as nominees come before the Judiciary Committee and the full Senate, I will keep your views in mind.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, Tillis had not publicly announced whether he will support Blanche’s nomination.