Story perspectives

NM AG Sues DOJ, Senate Targets Banks Over Epstein

8/7/2026

Summary

Torrez Sues DOJ

Attorney General Raúl Torrez sued the Department of Justice and Attorney General Todd Blanche for stonewalling New Mexico’s probe of Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch.
The commission’s interim report says five women and girls were abused at Zorro Ranch from 1996-2012 and estimates about 30 more victims statewide.
It will release a final report by Dec. 31 with proposals to eliminate trafficking statutes of limitations and close a registration loophole.

Summary

Wyden Accuses Banks

Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) released a report accusing JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank and Bank of America of AML failures that moved $1 billion, hid $250 million, and omitted $170 million in Epstein transfers.
Wyden’s bill would force bankers to sign due-diligence attestations, raise penalties for delayed SAR filings, and allow criminal charges and clawbacks for ignoring suspicious transactions.
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) refused to back a subpoena for Epstein’s bank records, accusing Democrats of stonewalling.

History

Historical Context

After the September 11 attacks, senators including Orrin Hatch and Patrick Leahy helped draft the Anti-Terrorism Act introduced on September 19, 2001, which became the USA PATRIOT Act and created FinCEN via the Financial Anti-Terrorism Act of October 2001. The law expanded AML authority, and FinCEN reports that banks moved roughly $1 billion in suspicious Epstein transfers, prompting New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez’s lawsuit and Senator Ron Wyden’s reform push.

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Torrez Sues DOJ

Attorney General Raúl Torrez sued the Department of Justice and Attorney General Todd Blanche for stonewalling New Mexico’s probe of Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch.
The commission’s interim report says five women and girls were abused at Zorro Ranch from 1996-2012 and estimates about 30 more victims statewide.
It will release a final report by Dec. 31 with proposals to eliminate trafficking statutes of limitations and close a registration loophole.

1 / 3