Richie Diesterheft / Wikimedia Commons
Why It Matters
New Mexico’s top law enforcement officer is challenging the federal government’s refusal to share investigative records tied to sex crimes allegedly committed at Jeffrey Epstein’s ranch property near Santa Fe. The lawsuit raises questions about how federal agencies handle state criminal probes and whether victims and survivors will gain access to evidence that could shed light on crimes committed within New Mexico’s borders.
What Happened
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed suit against the U.S. Department of Justice and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, alleging the federal government has blocked the state’s investigation into sex crimes at Epstein’s former property in northern New Mexico.
Torrez accused federal officials of stonewalling New Mexico prosecutors by denying or ignoring at least 10 separate requests for key investigative materials. According to Torrez, the DOJ’s obstruction prevents New Mexico from fully investigating crimes that allegedly occurred within the state’s jurisdiction. “Todd Blanche today with a stroke of a pen could grant us the access that he claimed,” Torrez said, as reported by East Idaho News. “Instead they have decided to stonewall, to obstruct and to frankly conceal for whatever reason.”
The DOJ responded that it withholds information due to federal court orders protecting victim-identifying information from disclosure, citing legal restrictions on releasing materials tied to ongoing federal cases and victim privacy concerns.
Torrez’s lawsuit was filed the same day the New Mexico House of Representatives released a report examining the state’s efforts to investigate crimes at the ranch. The timing underscores escalating friction between state and federal authorities over how Epstein-related evidence is being handled.
The Epstein Connection to New Mexico
Epstein purchased a property in the rural Stanley area, approximately 30 miles south of Santa Fe, in 1993 from then-Democratic Governor Bruce King. Testimony at the 2021 trial of Ghislaine Maxwell—Epstein’s longtime associate—alleged that Maxwell and Epstein sexually abused women at the New Mexico ranch.
At Maxwell’s trial, witness Annie Farmer testified she was 16 years old when she traveled to the ranch. Rachel Benavidez also testified about being sexually abused by Epstein at the location. In a statement to the media, Benavidez expressed frustration with the ongoing delays in accessing records. “We don’t need more paper files sitting as artifacts,” she told the EastIdahoNews.com.
Epstein died by suicide in a New York federal jail in August 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on sex trafficking charges and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
The New Mexico property was sold by Epstein’s estate in 2023 to the family of Don Huffines, a Republican who was recently appointed Texas state comptroller. The Huffines family renamed it San Rafael Ranch in February.
State Response and Federal Transparency Push
New Mexico lawmakers established a Survivors’ Truth Commission in February to investigate crimes at the ranch and gather testimony from victims and witnesses. The commission’s work has been hampered by the state’s inability to obtain federal investigative records.
The DOJ began releasing Epstein and Maxwell investigative records in December under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a federal initiative aimed at making certain materials public. However, New Mexico officials contend that the federal government continues to deny requests for materials critical to the state’s investigation, citing victim privacy and ongoing legal proceedings.
The dispute reflects broader tension over how federal and state authorities coordinate on major criminal investigations and the balance between victim protection and public accountability.
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