Torrez Demands Access to Sealed Epstein Files
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has accused the U.S. Department of Justice of hindering the state’s probe into Jeffrey Epstein. The state is demanding access to unredacted federal files, arguing they are essential to identify survivors, witnesses, and potential co-conspirators connected to Epstein’s former ranch near Santa Fe.
A Cold Trail at Zorro Ranch
State officials reopened the investigation in February, focusing on the property where Epstein is accused of abusing women and girls for nearly three decades.
Progress, however, has stalled. In a June 30 letter to Acting U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche, Torrez revealed that his office has been waiting 130 days for the requested documents. He characterized the delay as “unreasonable under any rule of reason.”
The Federal Stance on Cooperation
The Department of Justice disputes the claim that it is withholding information. A spokesperson for the agency stated that the DOJ provided a response to New Mexico’s request in June.
“The DOJ reiterates that it welcomes New Mexico undertaking additional investigation of the Zorro Ranch and stands ready to provide necessary assistance with New Mexico’s investigation,” the spokesperson said. The agency added that it remains willing to investigate and potentially prosecute any federal crimes uncovered by the state’s inquiry.
Obstacles to Prosecution
Attorney General Torrez outlined several hurdles in March that complicate the case. Investigators are contending with the long duration since the alleged crimes occurred, which has led to possible deterioration or disappearance of evidence. Furthermore, the 2023 sale of the ranch may have resulted in the loss or deterioration of pertinent evidence. Prosecutors are also navigating jurisdictional issues surrounding any potential prosecutions.
The Investigation’s Current Trajectory
As of early July, the New Mexico Attorney General’s office has not announced any results stemming from the five-month-old investigation. The inquiry remains active, though the state continues to press for the specific federal documentation it deems essential to identifying key witnesses and potential co-conspirators.