New Mexico sues Trump’s DOJ for access to Epstein files after ‘stonewalling’ state investigation into Zorro Ranch

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez is suing Donald Trump’s Department of Justice for “complete and unredacted access” to files stemming from investigations into Jeffrey Epstein for the state’s own criminal probe into alleged crimes at Zorro Ranch.

Torrez has accused the Trump administration of obstructing access to evidence in connection with the state’s investigation into the 26,700 square foot hilltop mansion in Santa Fe County that was once owned by the wealthy and well-connected sex offender.

The property is referenced thousands of times in the Epstein files, and Torrez’s office says the Justice Department has ignored at least ten requests for access to the documents.

“New Mexico has a duty to protect survivors and investigate crimes committed in our state so that perpetrators can be held accountable,” Torrez said in a statement Wednesday.

“We asked the Department of Justice to cooperate by providing access to records that may be critical to identifying victims, witnesses, and additional criminal conduct at Zorro Ranch. Their delay is actively hurting our criminal investigation and delaying justice Epstein survivors deserve,” he added.

New Mexico officials are suing the Department of Justice for access to unredacted Epstein files as the state launches a criminal investigation into the dead sex offender’s alleged crimes at his Zorro Ranch property (Getty)

In February, following the Trump administration’s release of millions of documents connected to Epstein, New Mexico’s Department of Justice launched an investigation into alleged crimes at the property, which is referenced at least 13,000 times in the Epstein files, according to Torrez.

Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide in 2025, was pictured at Zorro Ranch, and other survivors of his abuse, including Annie Farmer, have described the abuse they experienced under Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell at the property.

The state’s 2019 criminal investigation into Epstein’s activities in New Mexico closed within a year without any charges filed. Epstein died in jail that summer while awaiting trial on federal trafficking charges in New York. His death was ruled a suicide.

New Mexico’s federal lawsuit accuses the Justice Department of unlawfully refusing to share records that could be used to identify witnesses, corroborate evidence, and determine the full scope of Epstein’s alleged crimes in the state.

“Throughout his lifetime, per the federal government’s own accounting, Epstein and his criminal network subjected over 1,000 survivors to egregious and predatory conduct,” according to the lawsuit.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Justice Department leadership “perpetuate that disgrace” with conduct that “actively harms victims and undermines the public interest” by “stonewalling” the state’s investigation, according to the lawsuit.

Sky Roberts (left) and his wife Amanda Roberts hold signs demanding justice for his sister Virginia, among Epstein’s victims who was pictured at the sex offender’s Zorro Ranch property in New Mexico. Virginia Giuffre died by suicide in 2025 (Getty)

Epstein bought the ranch from former New Mexico Governor Bruce King. The property — which includes an airstrip, helipad and hilltop mansion where the billionaire sex offender is accused of abusing women and girls over a 26-year period — was put up for sale in July 2021, two years after Epstein’s death. It was valued at $27.5 million at that time.

The property was acquired in 2023 by Don Huffines, a businessman and self-declared “MAGA Trump Republican” who recently won the Republican nomination for Texas comptroller.

Huffines is behind an entity called San Rafael Ranch LLC, which The Santa Fe New Mexican first traced to Huffines through public records requests. The property was valued for tax purposes at $21.1 million for the 2023 fiscal year, and the LLC argued that Epstein’s “notoriety” and its higher sales price merited a lower valuation.

New Mexico lawmakers have separately created an investigatory subcommittee with subpoena power to collect testimony, records and other evidence stemming from allegations of abuse at the property.

New Mexico residents “deserve to know the truth about what went on at the Zorro Ranch and who knew about it,” Democratic state Rep. Andrea Romero said in a statement following a vote establishing the committee.

“We have heard years of allegations and rumors about Epstein’s activities in New Mexico, but unfortunately, federal investigations have failed to put together an official record,” she said at the time.

The committee is expected to operate through the rest of 2026 with a budget of $2 million, funded by a 2023 settlement between Torrez’s office and several financial services companies over failures to identify abuses at the property.

For more: Elrisala website and for social networking, you can follow us on Facebook
Source of information and images “independent”“