New Mexico sues DOJ, saying secrecy over Epstein Files blocks Zorro Ranch criminal investigation
(Jeffrey Epstein pictured on Zorro Ranch in New Mexico)
New Mexico has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice, accusing the agency of obstructing an ongoing criminal investigation into alleged sex trafficking, abuse, and other crimes linked to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous Zorro Ranch.
The lawsuit, filed Aug. 5 by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, seeks access to unredacted federal investigative files that state officials say are essential to uncovering the full scope of crimes allegedly committed at the sprawling Santa Fe County property. According to the complaint, the Justice Department has repeatedly refused to provide the records, arguing that court orders protecting victim identities prevent broader disclosure.
State officials contend the withheld documents could help identify previously unknown victims, witnesses, and possible accomplices, while also revealing additional criminal conduct tied to Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. Torrez argues the federal government’s refusal has delayed justice and interfered with New Mexico’s authority to investigate crimes committed within its borders.
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Why Zorro Ranch Matters
Zorro Ranch has long occupied a central place in allegations surrounding Epstein’s abuse network. Purchased by Epstein in 1993, the secluded property near Stanley, New Mexico, features a 26,700-square-foot mansion, a private airstrip, and a helipad. Investigators say Epstein regularly used the ranch for more than two decades, and thousands of pages of federal records reportedly reference the property.
New Mexico authorities believe the ranch may contain evidence of grooming, human trafficking, sexual abuse, and other crimes that were never fully investigated. Officials also argue New Mexico is one of the few remaining jurisdictions that could still pursue criminal cases against individuals connected to Epstein’s alleged activities.
The ranch itself has drawn additional notoriety from reports that Epstein once discussed plans to father children there as part of a bizarre scheme to spread his DNA.
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Maxwell’s Role at the Ranch
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend and longtime confidante, remains a key figure in the New Mexico investigation. She is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence after being convicted in 2021 of helping recruit and groom underage girls for Epstein.
Witnesses at Maxwell’s trial testified that abuse also occurred at Zorro Ranch. Prosecutors allege Maxwell helped facilitate Epstein’s exploitation of young women at multiple locations, including the New Mexico estate, making the ranch a potentially important crime scene in understanding the broader trafficking operation.
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Survivors Describe Abuse in New Mexico
Several women have publicly identified Zorro Ranch as one of the places where they say Epstein abused them.
Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, was photographed at the ranch during the years she says she was trafficked by Epstein.
(Prince Edward, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell)
A survivor identified publicly only as Jane has said she was just 14 years old when Epstein allegedly abused her at several of his properties, including Zorro Ranch.
At a hearing this week before New Mexico’s Survivors’ Truth Commission, Rachel Benavidez testified that Epstein sexually abused her after she was recruited to work as a massage therapist at the ranch in the late 1990s. She urged investigators to pursue not only Epstein’s crimes but also those of alleged co-conspirators, saying powerful connections allowed him to operate in New Mexico “unchecked.”
Psychologist Annie Farmer also testified during Maxwell’s criminal trial that she was 16 when she visited Zorro Ranch, where she alleged Maxwell inappropriately touched her during a massage before Epstein climbed into bed beside her.
Victims and relatives of victims have criticized the Justice Department’s position, arguing that claims of protecting survivor privacy ring hollow because many victims’ identities have already been disclosed through previous court proceedings.
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Investigation Reopened
New Mexico reopened its investigation earlier this year after concluding that allegations tied to Zorro Ranch had never received the same scrutiny as Epstein’s activities in New York, Florida, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. State officials say they have submitted at least 10 requests for investigative records that were denied or ignored. They also claim federal prosecutors asked New Mexico to suspend its original investigation in 2019 with promises of future cooperation that never materialized.
The Justice Department maintains it is complying with federal court orders and continues to offer assistance within legal limits. The lawsuit now asks a federal judge to order the release of the requested records or require the DOJ to reconsider New Mexico’s request under federal disclosure regulations.
For New Mexico investigators—and for survivors who say justice remains incomplete—the unredacted files may hold the key to understanding what really happened behind the gates of Zorro Ranch.
For more on the story, see the video below.
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(Sources: New Mexico Department of Justice, The Dailyn Beast, AP News)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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