New Mexico Attorney General sues DOJ for unredacted Epstein files FAST-MOVING
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, seeking unredacted records from the Jeffrey Epstein files. The suit claims the DOJ is “stonewalling” the state’s investigation into alleged sex‑trafficking and other crimes at Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe County and argues that the lack of access “actively harms victims” and hampers justice.
Torrez says the state reopened its Epstein probe in February 2024 and has requested the documents ten times. The DOJ replies that the Epstein Files Transparency Act and existing protective court orders prohibit disclosure of victim‑identifying information, and that the state has offered no lawful basis for a sweeping release. The department notes it has provided limited material – roughly 31 pages – while the files reference Zorro Ranch more than 13,000 times.
The complaint asks the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to compel the DOJ to turn over the unredacted files, arguing that the state’s investigation into visitors, staff and possible co‑conspirators cannot proceed without them.
Entities: Jeffrey Epstein · Raúl Torrez · Todd Blanche · U.S. Department of Justice · Zorro Ranch
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Zorro Ranch is referenced in the Epstein files about 13,000 times, but the DOJ has provided only about 31 pages of material. (supporting_article_ids)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The state reopened its Epstein investigation in February 2024. (supporting_article_ids)
- [● 10 SOURCES] The DOJ says it cannot disclose victim‑identifying information because of the Epstein Files Transparency Act and protective court orders. (supporting_article_ids)
- [● 13 SOURCES] New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche seeking unredacted Epstein files. (supporting_article_ids)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Torrez’s office has made ten separate requests for the records, which were ignored or denied. (supporting_article_ids)
- [● 9 SOURCES] The lawsuit alleges the DOJ is stonewalling the state's investigation into alleged sex crimes at Epstein's Zorro Ranch in New Mexico. (supporting_article_ids)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The lawsuit requests the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to compel the DOJ to release the unredacted files. (supporting_article_ids)