New Mexico sues Trump DOJ, accuses it of blocking Epstein ranch probe

Published Aug 5, 05:10 PM UTC

New Mexico has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, accusing them of intentionally withholding unredacted documents related to Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch. The state seeks access to federal case files to investigate allegations of child sex trafficking and abuse at the New Mexico property. Attorney General Raúl Torrez stated the DOJ's delay is harming the criminal investigation and delaying justice for survivors. The lawsuit follows a previous threat of legal action and a July 31 deadline. The Zorro Ranch, purchased by Epstein in 1993, has long been suspected as a site of illicit activity, with victims alleging trafficking and staff emails claiming bodies were buried there. The state's investigation was initially taken over by the federal government in 2019 under the first Trump administration, but the case was closed. Despite the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed by Congress in November, the DOJ has not fully released the files. Blanche, blamed by former Attorney General Pam Bondi for the bungled rollout, recently advanced in Senate confirmation proceedings.