According to a report by Reuters on August 6, the government of New Mexico has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice, requesting access to unedited investigation documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The government alleges that federal agencies have obstructed state investigations.
The lawsuit states that New Mexico resumed its investigation into Epstein in February this year and requested the Department of Justice to provide relevant documents to confirm whether anyone among the visitors and staff at Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in New Mexico was involved in any crimes or had information related to those crimes.
March 8, 2026. A drone photograph of Zorro Ranch near Stanley, New Mexico, USA. Photo provided by Reuters.
New Mexico Attorney General Torrez said that the state cannot decide whether to charge the individuals without reviewing those documents. “We need these documents in order to decide whether to prosecute certain people,” he said.
The US Department of Justice responded by stating that, under the Epstein Document Transparency Act and court orders, federal agencies have no right to disclose information that could expose the identities of victims. They also mentioned that New Mexico did not provide a legal basis for requiring “mass disclosures”.
This lawsuit has further intensified the controversy surrounding the release of Epstein’s files. The Trump administration has been under political pressure due to its handling of these documents.
Meanwhile, a phased investigation report released by a New Mexico state legislator states that existing evidence indicates that Epstein assaulted at least five women and girls at the Zorro Ranch between 1996 and 2012. Additionally, at least 30 other individuals may have been victimized or be related to the case.
The report states that the investigation committee has issued subpoenas to multiple agencies and received over 100,000 documents. However, some requests from agencies such as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the New York District Federal Attorney’s Office were denied. New Mexico has accused the Department of Justice of not fulfilling the arrangements regarding information sharing made between the two parties in 2019.
