New Mexico’s attorney general has accused the U.S. Justice Department of obstructing the state’s criminal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s activities at his Zorro Ranch estate, located south of Santa Fe. Raúl Torrez said the federal agency has repeatedly withheld unredacted records critical to the ongoing probe.
Torrez first requested the original documents related to Epstein’s property in February and has followed up at least five times through various channels. According to the attorney general, these records include the names of survivors, witnesses, alleged coconspirators, and others who could provide vital information for the investigation, which has faced delays.
In a letter sent last week to Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and made public Thursday, Torrez criticized the Justice Department for its failure to comply. “Every day that the U.S.D.O.J. withholds these records, the foundation upon which a New Mexico prosecution could be built erodes,” he wrote. The Justice Department did not immediately comment.
The dispute highlights persistent challenges in coordinating federal and state law enforcement efforts in the case, which involves allegations that Epstein trafficked and abused victims at the remote Zorro Ranch. The property had largely escaped examination in prior investigations, even as other parts of Epstein’s network faced scrutiny.
Previously unsealed documents revealed that when federal authorities took control of the case in 2019, they overlooked the ranch, leading New Mexico officials to allege that the property was not fully searched. This revelation prompted state lawmakers to create a bipartisan truth commission with subpoena powers and spurred Torrez to reopen the state investigation.
In March, investigators began a site search at Zorro Ranch, now owned by Don Huffines, a Dallas real estate figure and Texas comptroller, who has expressed cooperation with the inquiry. Huffines intends to convert the property into a Christian retreat.
Torrez has also instructed numerous companies to preserve records linked to Epstein and his associates. The state truth commission has issued subpoenas to federal and state agencies, financial institutions, and a local nonprofit connected to Epstein.
Nonetheless, Torrez warned that the state’s ability to advance the investigation remains hindered without full cooperation from federal officials. He noted that although Justice Department representatives had promised to provide unredacted files months ago, those assurances have yet to materialize.
“Every avenue of investigation that begins with a redacted name, a blacked-out face or an obscured date is an avenue that ends before it begins,” Torrez wrote.
Emphasizing the urgency, he highlighted the risk that delays could jeopardize the investigation as witnesses move away, memories fade, and evidence deteriorates. More than 130 days have passed since the first records request, which Torrez described as “an unreasonable delay under any rule of reason.”
Torrez said he had received no response to his most recent letter, underscoring the ongoing stalemate between New Mexico authorities and the Justice Department in pursuing accountability related to Epstein’s crimes in the state.