A public dispute has arisen between New Mexico's Attorney General Raúl Torrez and the U.S. Justice Department regarding records related to the state's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The disagreement highlights concerns about whether federal privacy laws and court orders are obstructing state investigators from following potential criminal leads linked to Epstein's former Zorro Ranch in New Mexico.
On July 15, 2026, Attorney General Torrez reiterated his claims that the U.S. DOJ is hindering his investigation by withholding unredacted Epstein files. In a letter to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Torrez stated that despite prior assurances of cooperation, access to the requested records has not been granted. He indicated that if the DOJ does not respond by July 31, the New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) would consider the request denied and pursue legal remedies.
The NMDOJ reported that the Southern District of New York office of the U.S. Justice Department informed them that they would not cooperate with the ongoing investigation into Epstein. In response, a DOJ spokesperson described the NMDOJ's claims as false, asserting that complying with their demands would violate federal law. The spokesperson emphasized that federal law and court orders prevent the release of unredacted documents.
In February 2026, New Mexico lawmakers initiated an investigation into allegations of trafficking and sexual abuse linked to Epstein at Zorro Ranch. The NMDOJ had previously sought access to a 2019 anonymous email alleging that two foreign girls were buried at the ranch. Epstein accuser Annie Farmer testified in 2021 that she was abused at the ranch when she was 16 years old. A prior criminal investigation in New Mexico concluded in 2019 without any charges being filed.
The New Mexico Attorney General has set a deadline of July 31 for the U.S. DOJ to respond before taking further legal action.