Full Breakdown
New Mexico Attorney General Accuses DOJ of Blocking Access to Epstein Files
7/11/2026, 1:21:14 AM
The Allegation
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on June 30 demanding unredacted records the Justice Department holds on Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch estate. Torrez says the DOJ has failed to provide the documents for more than 130 days, hindering the state’s criminal investigation into alleged sex-trafficking at the 26,700-square-foot hilltop mansion in Santa Fe County.
Background & Context
Epstein owned the Zorro Ranch property from 1993 until his death in 2019. Federal investigations released millions of files in early 2024, but many records concerning the New Mexico site remained sealed. The state reopened its probe in February 2026 after the federal release, citing survivor testimony—including that of the late Virginia Giuffre—that the ranch was used for abuse over a 26-year period.
Key Figures & Groups
- Raúl Torrez – Democratic New Mexico Attorney General, leading the state investigation.
- Todd Blanche – Acting U.S. Attorney General under the Trump administration.
- Virginia Giuffre – Epstein survivor whose 2025 suicide renewed public focus on the case.
- Annie Farmer – Survivor who described abuse at the ranch.
- Andrea Romero – Democratic state Representative who helped establish a bipartisan “truth commission” with subpoena power.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1993 | Jeffrey Epstein purchases Zorro Ranch. |
| 2019 | Epstein dies in federal jail; original state probe halted. |
| Feb 2026 | New Mexico reopens investigation; truth commission created. |
| June 30 2026 | Torrez’s letter to Blanche demanding records. |
| July 9 2026 | Al Jazeera publishes Torrez’s letter; Independent reports on DOJ obstruction. |
| End 2026 | Truth commission expected to release its report. |
Data & Statistics
- The ranch spans 26,700 sq ft and includes an airstrip, helipad, and hilltop mansion.
- The property was valued at $27.5 million in July 2021 and at $21.1 million for tax purposes in fiscal 2023.
- Survivors are believed to number in the hundreds; exact figures are withheld in the disputed records.
Why It Matters
Access to the names of survivors, witnesses, and co-conspirators is described as “essential to substantiating survivor testimony and constructing the evidentiary foundation any prosecution requires.” Delays risk “witnesses relocate and become unreachable” and could allow critical evidence to degrade, potentially precluding any future prosecutions.
Official Statements & Responses
- Torrez asserts that the DOJ’s “verbal assurances of cooperation” have not materialized and that the withholding “causes real and escalating harm” to the state’s case.
- The Justice Department has denied impeding the investigation, stating it is “ready to assist” and has not issued a formal comment on the specific request.
- Representative Andrea Romero emphasized that New Mexico residents “deserve to know the truth about what went on at the Zorro Ranch and who knew about it,” noting the federal record remains incomplete.
Criticism & Opposition
Legal analysts and advocacy groups have criticized the Trump administration for a lack of transparency, suggesting personal ties between former President Donald Trump and Epstein may have contributed to the DOJ’s reticence. Critics point to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by Trump in November 2025, which mandated rapid, minimally redacted release of all Epstein-related documents—a deadline many believe was not fully met.
On-the-Ground Reports
Survivors’ families, including Sky Roberts and Daniel Wilson—brothers of Virginia Giuffre—participated in protests outside the ranch earlier this year, demanding accountability and the release of the withheld files.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The DOJ claims readiness to cooperate, yet no substantive response has been provided to Torrez’s repeated requests.
- Federal filings indicate that an 2019 FBI tipster offered “7 videos of sexual abuse… and the location of two foreign girls buried on Zorro Ranch for sale for one bitcoin,” but the authenticity of that claim remains unverified.
- No public record confirms whether the DOJ possesses the specific survivor-identifying documents Torrez seeks.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Survivors of serious criminal conduct at Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch in New Mexico are being denied justice,” — Raúl Torrez.
- “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,” — Raúl Torrez.
- “Every day that the USDOJ withholds these records, the foundation upon which a New Mexico prosecution could be built erodes,” — Raúl Torrez.
- “The U.S.D.O.J.’s continued withholding of unredacted records is causing real and escalating harm,” — Raúl Torrez.
- “Heavily redacted open-source records already establish that multiple survivors were brought to Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, on numerous occasions, where they were subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation,” — Raúl Torrez.
What’s Next
The bipartisan truth commission established in February 2026 is slated to issue its final report by the end of 2026, which may include recommendations for further legal action or federal cooperation.
