SANTA FE — New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez on Thursday accused the U.S. Department of Justice of obstructing the state’s criminal probe into Jeffrey Epstein’s activities at Zorro Ranch by refusing to turn over unredacted documents that his office requested months ago.
What the AG says
Torrez said his office first asked for original, unredacted records in February and followed up multiple times through different channels. He says the documents include the names of survivors, witnesses, alleged co-conspirators and other individuals who could be crucial to building a state prosecution.
“The USDOJ’s continued withholding of unredacted records is causing real and escalating harm,”
Torrez wrote that every day those records remain unavailable, the foundation for a possible New Mexico case diminishes.
Federal response and context
A Justice Department spokesperson, Kiersten Pels, responded that the department "welcomes New Mexico undertaking additional investigation of the Zorro Ranch and stands ready to provide necessary assistance with New Mexico’s investigation." The DOJ statement did not address the specific allegation that unredacted records have been withheld after repeated requests.
The dispute adds another hurdle to a long-delayed effort to examine alleged sex trafficking and abuse tied to Epstein’s high-desert estate south of Santa Fe. Earlier disclosures revealed that federal investigators largely overlooked the property when they assumed a prior state inquiry in 2019, prompting criticism from state officials and lawmakers.
Why it matters for New Mexico
State investigators say the unredacted records could identify people who were present at the ranch, survivors who may wish to cooperate and witnesses whose information could corroborate allegations. The delay complicates evidence-gathering and could affect witness recollections, availability and other investigative priorities.
- February: Torrez’s office made its initial request for unredacted records.
- Subsequent months: The request was reiterated at least five times, according to the AG.
- Last week: Torrez sent a letter to acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, which was made public Thursday.
| Actor | Position | Statement |
|---|---|---|
| Raúl Torrez | New Mexico Attorney General | Accuses DOJ of withholding unredacted records needed for prosecution |
| Kiersten Pels | DOJ spokesperson | Says DOJ is ready to assist New Mexico’s investigation |
The contention between state and federal officials has already spurred the creation of a bipartisan state ‘‘truth commission’’ empowered with subpoena authority and renewed legislative scrutiny of how earlier investigations handled the Zorro Ranch. Torrez’s move to reopen his office’s inquiry followed revelations that the remote property had not been thoroughly searched by federal agents in earlier probes.
For New Mexico, the dispute underscores tensions that can arise when federal and state investigations intersect, especially in complex, high-profile cases tied to long-running allegations of sexual abuse and trafficking. The availability of unredacted records may determine whether prosecutors can locate witnesses, corroborate survivor accounts and, ultimately, pursue criminal charges in state court.
The AG’s letter and the DOJ’s response leave open whether a negotiated resolution will produce the records Torrez seeks or whether the state will leverage other legal tools to compel disclosure.
The case remains under active review by Torrez’s office.
