New Mexico Department of Justice sues feds over Epstein files

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez in early July sent a  letter to USDOJ officials contending the federal agency has delayed release of multiple records related to the state’s criminal investigation of Epstein’s activities at his Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe.

Former New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas, also in July, released a letter to Torrez in which he said federal officials had failed “to this day” to uphold an agreement to share New Mexico-related materials with the state’s top law enforcement agency.

Among other requests, the new lawsuit asks the court to order the federal agency to provide access to un-redacted Epstein files and other unreleased materials, or require USDOJ to reconsider the request under formal regulations known as a Touhy request.

“New Mexico has a duty to protect survivors and investigate crimes committed in our state so that perpetrators can be held accountable,” Torrez said in a statement. “We asked the Department of Justice to cooperate by providing access to records that may be critical to identifying victims, witnesses, and additional criminal conduct at Zorro Ranch. Their delay is actively hurting our criminal investigation and delaying justice Epstein survivors deserve.” 

A USDOJ spokesperson, in response to a request for comment from Source NM, wrote that, “The Epstein Files Transparency Act does not require, and the protective orders in place in the Southern District of New York do not permit, disclosure of victim-identifying information carte blanche, and New Mexico has provided no lawful basis to justify such sweeping disclosures. Protecting victim privacy remains a top priority for the Department, and neither Touhy requests nor a desire to cooperate outweighs that privacy. DOJ remains available to assist New Mexico’s investigation consistent with the law and binding court orders.”