New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has filed a lawsuit against Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) to obtain unredacted investigative files concerning deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The lawsuit aims to gain access to materials related to Epstein's activities in New Mexico, particularly at his Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe. Torrez contends that the federal agency's delay in providing these records is hindering the state's criminal investigation and delaying justice for Epstein survivors.
Torrez initially sent a letter to USDOJ officials in early July, following prior requests dating back to February, requesting these documents. He stated that the federal government's failure to release the documents is obstructing the state's probe. Despite verbal assurances of cooperation, New Mexico has not received substantive responses or access to the requested records for over 130 days since the initial request.
The USDOJ, in response, stated that federal law, court orders, and victim privacy protections prevent the release of millions of unredacted documents. A spokesperson indicated that the Epstein Files Transparency Act does not require, and protective orders in the Southern District of New York do not permit, carte blanche disclosure of victim-identifying information. The USDOJ maintains that protecting victim privacy remains a top priority and that neither Touhy requests nor a desire to cooperate outweighs this privacy, although they remain available to assist New Mexico's investigation consistent with the law.
Torrez has criticized the materials previously provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office for New Mexico on July 10, which included 31 pages of already public documents, redacted material, or photocopies of local news stories. He asserts that these provided materials are not responsive to a legitimate law enforcement request and that the foundation for a New Mexico prosecution is eroding daily due to the withholding of critical information.
