Nervous Trump knows Todd Blanche's broken promise threatens certain impeachment

New Mexico Attorney General Sues DOJ Seeking Access to Epstein Investigation Materials

FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump, alongside his attorney Todd Blanche, speaks to the media as he arrives for his criminal trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed suit in federal court against Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and the United States, seeking an order compelling the Department of Justice to provide documents and information related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The complaint centers on the state’s effort to examine possible criminal activity at Zorro Ranch, a property Epstein owned approximately 30 miles south of Santa Fe.

The lawsuit states that New Mexico has made ten formal requests for records since beginning its review of the ranch. According to the filing, the Department of Justice has either denied the requests or failed to respond substantively. The state argues that it possesses authority to investigate potential violations of New Mexico criminal law that may have occurred within its borders, including any offenses involving minors.

Zorro Ranch spans more than 8,000 acres and was purchased by Epstein in the 1990s. Court records from prior federal cases show that Epstein used private aircraft to transport individuals to and from the property. New Mexico officials have stated that their investigation seeks to determine whether any crimes prosecutable under state law took place there, separate from the federal prosecutions that concluded in 2019 and 2021.

The Department of Justice has responded that certain materials cannot be released because of existing federal court orders that restrict disclosure of victim-identifying information. In court filings, the department wrote that it is barred from releasing such information “carte blanche” and that New Mexico had not demonstrated a lawful basis for the broad disclosures requested. The response emphasizes compliance with protective orders issued in earlier Epstein-related proceedings.

New Mexico’s complaint does not seek public release of victim names. It requests that the information be provided to state law enforcement personnel under conditions that maintain confidentiality. The state contends that other law enforcement agencies routinely receive victim information when conducting parallel investigations, subject to nondisclosure agreements and protective orders.

The Epstein criminal cases involved multiple jurisdictions. Federal prosecutors in New York secured convictions against Epstein in 2019 and against Ghislaine Maxwell in 2021. Separate civil litigation and document releases have occurred in Florida and the Southern District of New York. New Mexico’s action represents an additional state-level effort to review materials connected to the same underlying events.

Federal court orders in the Epstein matters have limited dissemination of certain records to protect individuals identified as victims. Those orders were issued by judges overseeing the criminal and civil cases and remain in effect. The Department of Justice has cited these orders as the primary reason for withholding portions of the requested files.

The lawsuit raises questions about the scope of federal protective orders when a state seeks access for its own law enforcement purposes. New Mexico maintains that its investigators are bound by the same confidentiality requirements that apply to federal agents. The state further notes that it has offered to accept any reasonable restrictions on use and further disclosure.

Acting Attorney General Blanche assumed his position following the 2024 election. The Department of Justice under his leadership has continued to assert that victim privacy protections prevent broader release of the records. No public schedule has been set for arguments on the motion for production of documents.

Epstein acquired Zorro Ranch in 1993. Property records and flight logs introduced in prior litigation show regular use of the site through at least 2006. After Epstein’s arrest in 2019, federal authorities searched the ranch as part of their investigation. Materials obtained during that search remain under seal or subject to the protective orders referenced in the current dispute.

New Mexico law grants the attorney general authority to investigate and prosecute crimes occurring within the state. The complaint asserts that this authority extends to potential offenses at Zorro Ranch regardless of whether federal authorities have already conducted their own review. The state argues that parallel investigations by different sovereigns are common when conduct crosses jurisdictional lines.

The Department of Justice filing does not address whether any specific individuals have been identified as victims in connection with the New Mexico property. It focuses instead on the general prohibition against releasing identifying information without a court order modifying the existing protective provisions.

Legal observers note that disputes over access to sealed or protected investigative files between federal and state authorities occur periodically. Courts have previously required parties to demonstrate a particularized need before modifying protective orders. The New Mexico case will test whether the state can satisfy that standard.

The complaint seeks an order directing the Department of Justice to produce the requested materials or, alternatively, to appear and justify continued withholding. A hearing date has not yet been announced. The case is assigned to a federal district judge in New Mexico.

Additional background on the Epstein investigation includes the 2008 non-prosecution agreement in Florida, the 2019 federal indictment in New York, and the subsequent release of grand jury materials and civil case documents. Each of those proceedings generated its own set of protective orders and sealing provisions. The current lawsuit seeks to navigate those overlapping restrictions.

New Mexico officials have stated that their investigation remains at an early stage and that further progress depends on obtaining the withheld records. The Department of Justice has maintained that its position is driven solely by the requirements of existing court orders rather than any determination on the merits of the state’s investigative goals.

The litigation is expected to focus on the narrow question of whether the federal protective orders permit disclosure to another law enforcement agency under controlled conditions. Both sides have indicated they will present arguments based on the text of the orders and relevant case law governing access to sealed materials.

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