SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez on Tuesday publicly accused the U.S. Department of Justice of refusing to provide unredacted files tied to the state's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and the Zorro Ranch, escalating a dispute that could pit state prosecutors against federal privacy rules and court orders.
What Torrez says and what DOJ responds
Torrez told federal officials in a recent letter that the U.S. Justice Department had offered only "verbal assurances of cooperation" and had not delivered the records his office has sought. The attorney general set a July 31 deadline, warning that if the files are not produced by then the New Mexico Department of Justice will "treat this request as denied and will pursue all available legal remedies."
"To capitulate to their demands would be to break federal law. Is that what the NM AG is suggesting?"
The Justice Department pushed back in a statement, calling Torrez's characterization "false" and saying it must obey "federal law, court orders and privacy protections for victims and witnesses" that bar releasing millions of unredacted documents. A federal spokesperson said those legal constraints prevent the department from complying with the state's demand.
Why it matters for New Mexico
The clash centers on whether state investigators can review material that may contain leads tied to alleged trafficking and abuse at Epstein's Zorro Ranch outside Santa Fe. New Mexico lawmakers and the attorney general's office launched an inquiry earlier this year into allegations that Epstein and associates abused people at the property. Access to redacted or unredacted records could affect the state's ability to identify suspects, victims and other evidence relevant to possible criminal counts.
- State action: Torrez issued a formal deadline for federal cooperation and threatened litigation if records are withheld.
- Federal stance: DOJ officials say releasing unredacted documents would violate federal law and court orders protecting victims and witnesses.
- Local stakes: The outcome could determine whether New Mexico can independently pursue leads connected to the Zorro Ranch investigation.
Timeline of key developments
| When | Event |
|---|---|
| February 2026 | New Mexico lawmakers and the AG's office announce investigation into alleged abuse at Zorro Ranch. |
| June–July 2026 | Torrez requests unredacted federal records, including a 2019 anonymous email alleging bodies buried at the ranch. |
| July 31, 2026 | Deadline set by NMDOJ for federal compliance — failure to comply may prompt legal action. |
The dispute also raises broader questions about how state attorneys general can obtain federally held evidence when overlapping civil, criminal and privacy safeguards apply. For New Mexico, the conflict may determine whether state prosecutors have the material needed to advance criminal inquiries tied to a case that has drawn national attention.
As the deadline approaches, the primary immediate effect will be whether the U.S. Justice Department provides additional material or the matter moves into court. Either outcome could set precedent about federal-state cooperation in high-profile investigations that involve sensitive victim information.
