Full Breakdown
New Mexico Attorney General Accuses DOJ of Hindering State Epstein Probe
7/10/2026, 4:46:11 PM
Core Accusation
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez sent a letter to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) on June 30 demanding records related to Jeffrey Epstein’s activities on the state’s Zorro Ranch. Torrez claims the DOJ has failed to provide the requested files for more than 130 days, impeding the state’s reopened investigation that began in February 2026 after the federal release of millions of Epstein documents.
Background and Context
Epstein, a convicted sex-offender, owned Zorro Ranch in central New Mexico from 1993 onward and allegedly used the property for sex-trafficking. New Mexico first attempted a probe in 2019, but then-Attorney General Hector Balderas said the state was asked to suspend its work for federal prosecution. In 2025, the Trump administration signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, mandating the DOJ to publish all Epstein-related records within 30 days with minimal redaction. A first batch appeared on December 19, 2025, and a larger set was released in late January 2026, though many documents remained heavily redacted.
Official Statements & Responses
Torrez’s letter asserts that “the USDOJ now holds in its possession the very records that would allow the [New Mexico Department of Justice] to resume what federal intervention interrupted.” The DOJ, however, has denied impeding the investigation and told U.S. media it stands ready to assist.
Criticism and Opposition
Commentators have speculated that President Donald Trump’s personal ties to Epstein may have contributed to the administration’s reticence in fully releasing the files, though Trump has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. Critics also question whether the Trump administration complied with the Transparency Act, noting that the released files were heavily redacted and that victim identities were partially disclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Despite verbal assurances of cooperation from the USDOJ, access to the requested records has not been granted, no substantive response has been provided, and more than 130 days have now elapsed,” — Raul Torrez, New Mexico Attorney General
- “The USDOJ now holds in its possession the very records that would allow the [New Mexico Department of Justice] to resume what federal intervention interrupted,” — Raul Torrez
- “Every day that the USDOJ withholds these records, the foundation upon which a New Mexico prosecution could be built erodes,” — Raul Torrez
- “Witnesses relocate and become unreachable. Memories, already strained by years of trauma, fade further. Physical and documentary evidence degrades, is lost, or is rendered more difficult to authenticate with the passage of time.” — Raul Torrez
A bipartisan “truth commission” report on the Zorro Ranch investigation is expected by the end of 2026.
