The state of New Mexico has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, alleging that the federal government has blocked the state's efforts to investigate sex crimes linked to financier Jeffrey Epstein at his ranch in northern New Mexico. The lawsuit, submitted to a federal court in Washington, D.C., asserts that the DOJ's refusal to share unredacted documents or respond to information requests is hindering criminal inquiries and preventing justice for survivors.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said his office has made at least ten formal requests for key materials related to Epstein and his associates but has encountered persistent resistance and denial from federal authorities. He criticized the DOJ for insisting on formalized requests yet subsequently ignoring them, describing the federal response as a lack of genuine cooperation that undermines the public interest and harms victims.
The legal action coincides with the release of a preliminary report by a New Mexico House truth commission, which identified at least five women abused at Epstein’s Zorro Ranch, a 3,240-hectare property located near Stanley, roughly 30 miles south of Santa Fe. The commission indicated there could be as many as 30 potential victims whose identities remain unknown due to information being redacted by the DOJ. Epstein owned the ranch for about 25 years following his 1993 purchase from former Democratic Governor Bruce King. The estate includes a mansion with a private airstrip and helipad.
Epstein, who died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, and his convicted associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence, have been the focal points of investigations into allegations of sexual abuse at multiple locations, including the New Mexico ranch. Some witness testimony during Maxwell’s 2021 trial referenced sexual abuse occurring at the ranch.
The New Mexico report also notes 227 flights made by Epstein’s private aircraft to and from the state between 1992 and 2019, with flight manifests listing 80 passengers without full names and at least 26 with only female first names or initials. The state requested flight records from the Federal Aviation Administration but reportedly received no response.
In addition to allegations of sexual abuse, New Mexico authorities opened a criminal investigation earlier this year following claims contained in a DOJ document release, including an email from a purported former employee who alleged that two foreign girls were strangled and buried on the ranch property. These allegations have not been independently verified.
Epstein’s New Mexico estate was sold in 2023 to the family of Don Huffines, a Texas Republican and recently appointed state comptroller. The property has since been renamed San Rafael Ranch, with plans announced to operate it as a Christian retreat.
The DOJ has yet to comment on the lawsuit or the allegations of withholding evidence. The dispute highlights ongoing challenges between federal and state authorities as investigations into Epstein’s network continue.