New Mexico sues DOJ, Todd Blanche over Epstein files
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An aerial view of Jeffrey Epstein's former Zorro Ranch outside Santa Fe, N.M. Photo: Roberto E. Rosales/Getty Images
New Mexico sued acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and the Justice Department on Wednesday, seeking unredacted Jeffrey Epstein investigative files tied to its criminal probe of Zorro Ranch.
The big picture: The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, argues the DOJ unlawfully withheld records that could help identify victims, witnesses and additional criminal conduct tied to the Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe County.
Driving the news: New Mexico reopened its investigation into the property in February and says it carried out the first law enforcement search of the ranch the following month.
- New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the DOJ's refusal to share the files is delaying the state's investigation and justice for survivors. The complaint alleges federal prosecutors previously asked New Mexico to pause its investigation in 2019 with a promise to share information once their work concluded, but never did.
- The suit asks the court to declare the DOJ's refusal unlawful and order it to provide the requested unredacted records. Alternatively, it asks the court to require the department to reconsider the request under its own regulations.
The other side: "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," a Justice Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement Wednesday.
- "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."
Context: The New Mexico Department of Justice said in July that the DOJ's Southern District of New York office "called to inform us they will NOT cooperate and will not support the only active criminal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein."
- A spokesperson for the Justice Department called that characterization "false" in a statement to Axios, saying releasing the records would violate federal law because of court orders and privacy protections for victims and witnesses.
What's next: A federal judge must first determine whether the Justice Department was required to disclose the records under the regulations cited by New Mexico.
Go deeper: New Mexico lawmakers launch sweeping investigation into Epstein ranch
Editor's note: This story has been updated with comment from a Justice Department spokesperson.
