Feb. 19 — New Mexico’s attorney general has ordered the reopening of the state’s criminal investigation into alleged crimes at a ranch formerly owned by Jeffrey Epstein, authorities said.
According to Reuters, Attorney General Raul Torrez directed officials to revive the probe following the U.S. Department of Justice’s latest release of Epstein-related files. The U.S. Department of Justice made public millions of documents on Jan. 30, shedding new light on Epstein’s activities in New Mexico spanning three decades.
Torrez’s predecessor, Hector Balderas, closed the state investigation in 2019 to avoid overlap with federal inquiries. State officials now say newly unsealed FBI materials justify further examination.
The renewed criminal investigation comes days after New Mexico lawmakers launched what they described as the first comprehensive legislative inquiry into alleged crimes at Zorro Ranch, located south of Santa Fe. Authorities emphasized that the attorney general’s probe is separate from the legislative effort.
Special agents and prosecutors will seek immediate access to the Justice Department’s complete, unredacted Epstein case file and will coordinate with the legislature’s committee. The investigation will also focus on the “collection and preservation” of any remaining evidence, officials said.
The state Department of Justice confirmed it is examining allegations emerging from the federal document release, including a claim that Epstein ordered the burial of two foreign girls near the ranch.
Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 in what was ruled a suicide while he faced federal sex trafficking charges.
Zorro Ranch was sold in 2023 to Texas businessman and politician Don Huffines. A spokesperson said the current owners have not been contacted by law enforcement but would provide “full and complete cooperation” if requested. Huffines has stated he intends to convert the property into a Christian retreat.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department did not immediately comment.
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