Investigation – New Mexico Challenges Justice Department Over Epstein Ranch Records
Investigation – New Mexico has intensified its legal push to obtain federal records linked to Jeffrey Epstein’s former ranch, arguing that access to the information is essential for advancing an ongoing state criminal investigation.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., accusing the U.S. Department of Justice of refusing to share investigative materials connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s activities at his former ranch near Santa Fe. The legal action contends that repeated requests for evidence have been rejected or ignored, limiting the state’s ability to pursue potential criminal cases involving Epstein’s alleged associates.
State Seeks Court Order for Access to Federal Records
According to the lawsuit, New Mexico investigators have submitted ten separate requests for information that they believe would assist their inquiry. State officials argue that cooperation between federal and state authorities is standard practice in criminal investigations, yet they say their office has encountered unusual resistance.
Torrez stated that the Justice Department could authorize broader access to the requested documents but has instead continued to withhold them. The lawsuit asks the court to compel the federal government to release records that state prosecutors believe are necessary to continue their investigation and provide answers for survivors.
Justice Department Defends Its Position
The Justice Department said it is complying with existing federal court orders that prohibit the disclosure of information capable of identifying victims. In a statement, the department maintained that New Mexico has not established a legal basis for the broad release of confidential materials.
Federal officials added that protecting survivors’ privacy remains a priority while emphasizing that they are willing to assist the state’s investigation within the limits imposed by law and court directives.
Report Questions Past Investigative Efforts
The lawsuit was filed on the same day the New Mexico House of Representatives released an interim report examining how authorities handled allegations connected to Epstein’s activities in the state. The report criticized officials for relying heavily on investigations conducted elsewhere instead of pursuing allegations tied to New Mexico.
The New Mexico Survivors’ Truth Commission concluded that federal prosecutors largely focused on alleged offenses in New York, Florida, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, leaving accusations connected to Epstein’s New Mexico property with comparatively limited attention. At the same time, the commission acknowledged that evidence gathered during federal investigations helped document allegations involving the ranch.
Epstein Case Continues to Influence Legal Proceedings
Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in a federal jail in New York in August 2019 after being denied bail on federal sex trafficking charges. His longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence following her 2021 conviction on sex trafficking-related offenses. Testimony presented during Maxwell’s trial included allegations that abuse occurred at Epstein’s New Mexico ranch.
One witness, psychologist Annie Farmer, testified that she was 16 when she visited the property, where she alleged inappropriate conduct by both Maxwell and Epstein.
Survivors Renew Calls for Accountability
During a public meeting held at the New Mexico State Capitol, survivor Rachel Benavidez alleged that Epstein abused her at the ranch after she began working there as a massage therapist in the late 1990s. She urged the commission to move beyond reviewing documents and instead pursue testimony from individuals she described as co-conspirators who may have helped Epstein avoid accountability.
Separately, a group representing Epstein survivors and victims’ relatives criticized the Justice Department’s decision to withhold requested records. They argued that concerns about protecting identities were inconsistent with information that has already become public through previous legal proceedings.
Ranch Ownership Has Changed
Epstein purchased the Stanley, New Mexico, property in 1993. Following the sale of the estate in 2023, the ranch was acquired by the family of Texas official Don Huffines and renamed San Rafael Ranch. Huffines has said the property is intended to become a Christian retreat focused on healing.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department has continued releasing investigative records under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. However, lawmakers and victims’ advocates have expressed disappointment that many documents remain heavily redacted or sealed, limiting the public’s understanding of the broader investigation.