New Mexico Officials Say U.S. Justice Department Has Not Released Epstein Ranch Records

New Mexico officials are accusing the U.S. Justice Department of obstructing access to documents connected to the federal government's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The state is conducting its own probe into the sex offender's alleged crimes at his former Zorro Ranch property in Santa Fe County.

Officials say the Justice Department has not granted access to records requested more than 130 days ago.

" The letter described the delay as unreasonable under any rule of reason. The records include "the names of survivors, witnesses, co-conspirators and other individuals whose identities are essential" to the state investigation, according to the letter.

Officials stated that heavily redacted open-source records already establish that multiple survivors were brought to Zorro Ranch on numerous occasions, where they were subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation.

State investigators reopened the probe after the Justice Department began releasing millions of documents from federal Epstein investigations. Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide in 2025, was pictured at the property, and other survivors have described abuse there.

The state's 2019 criminal investigation into Epstein's activities in New Mexico closed within a year without charges. Epstein died in jail that summer while awaiting trial on federal trafficking charges in New York. Earlier this year, state lawmakers created an investigatory subcommittee with subpoena power to collect testimony and records.

The committee is expected to operate through the rest of 2026 with a $2 million budget.

Epstein bought the ranch from former New Mexico Governor Bruce King. The 26,700 square foot property, which includes an airstrip, helipad, and hilltop mansion, was put up for sale in July 2021 and valued at $27.5 million at that time. The property was acquired in 2023 by Don Huffines through an entity called San Rafael Ranch LLC.