New Mexico accuses U.S. Justice Department of impeding Epstein investigation

New Mexico's Attorney General Raul Torrez has publicly accused the U.S. Justice Department of obstructing the state's investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Torrez released a letter sent to the Justice Department on June 30, detailing his frustrations over the lack of cooperation.

The letter outlines a series of requests made by the New Mexico Department of Justice dating back to February. Torrez, a Democrat, wrote that "Despite verbal assurances of cooperation from the USDOJ, access to the requested records has not been granted, no substantive response has been provided, and more than 130 days have now elapsed." He characterized this delay as "an unreasonable delay under any rule of reason."

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Despite verbal assurances of cooperation from the USDOJ, access to the requested records has not been granted, no substantive response has been provided, and more than 130 days have now elapsed.

New Mexico reopened its investigation into Epstein in February, following the federal government's release of millions of files connected to the convicted sex offender. Some of these records pertain to Epstein's activities at his Zorro Ranch, a property he owned in central New Mexico from 1993. Epstein had built a large complex on the ranch where he hosted guests, but allegations of sex trafficking on the property have reportedly never been fully investigated.

Torrez stated his intention to complete the investigation initiated by his predecessor. However, he warned that the probe has faced "real and escalating harm" due to the federal government's lack of cooperation. "The USDOJ now holds in its possession the very records that would allow the [New Mexico Department of Justice] to resume what federal intervention interrupted," Torrez asserted. Epstein was convicted of soliciting a minor in Florida in 2008 and served 13 months. At the time of his death in 2019, he was awaiting trial for allegedly masterminding a sex-trafficking ring, with victims estimated to number in the hundreds.

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The USDOJ now holds in its possession the very records that would allow the [New Mexico Department of Justice] to resume what federal intervention interrupted.