New Mexico reopens probe into Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez’s office reopened an investigation into allegations linked to Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch, the state said Thursday. The announcement followed a review of information recently released by the U.S. Justice Department, as federal investigators’ records continued to draw renewed attention in the Epstein fallout.
The state said its renewed case followed developments tied to documents and disclosures that had been previously sealed. New Mexico prosecutors said the “revelations outlined in the previously sealed FBI files warrant further examination,” even though New Mexico’s earlier case had been closed in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors in New York.
New Mexico’s Department of Justice said special agents and prosecutors will seek immediate access to the complete, unredacted federal case file. The state also said it intends to work with other law enforcement partners and with a new truth commission created by state lawmakers to examine activities at the ranch.
The truth commission’s work began with its first meeting Tuesday. Along with investigating abuse and trafficking allegations tied to the ranch, lawmakers said they also want answers about why Epstein was not registered as a sex offender in New Mexico after his 2008 Florida guilty plea to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl, and whether corruption among public officials played a role.
New Mexico prosecutors said that although Epstein never faced charges in the state, they confirmed in 2019 that they had interviewed possible victims who visited the ranch south of Santa Fe. The state did not detail how many accusers were interviewed or what they said took place at the ranch.
Separately, lawyers for Epstein’s accusers said Thursday that they reached a proposed settlement in a class action lawsuit against Epstein’s estate. Pending a judge’s approval, the settlement would have the estate pay between $25 million and $35 million depending on how many victims qualify.
The news came amid other developments related to Epstein and people associated with him. In New York and Washington, multiple efforts continued to unfold as investigators and lawmakers sought additional testimony and documents, and police in Britain arrested former Prince Andrew on suspicion of misconduct in public office tied to his links to Epstein.
Meanwhile, attention also turned to the property’s history and current ownership. Epstein bought the Zorro Ranch in New Mexico in 1993 and built a hilltop mansion; the property included a private airstrip and other structures, according to the report. The estate sold the property in 2023, and proceeds were directed toward creditors.
In a social media post on X, the buyer, Don Huffines, said the property had been renamed San Rafael Ranch and that the family planned to operate a Christian retreat there. A spokesperson for Huffines said the owners have not been approached by law enforcement requesting access and said they would provide full cooperation if they were.
The released federal documents contain thousands of references to the ranch, including lists of visitors and invitations, the report said. The documents cited in the reporting also include involvement by former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who donated $50,000 in 2006 gubernatorial campaign contributions from Epstein to charity, and a letter from state land commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard that said she called for thorough criminal investigation into allegations involving the ranch.
Garcia Richard said earlier that her office canceled grazing leases held by the ranch in 2019 after her team was denied access to inspect nearly 2 square miles of leased state land. In court filings and statements cited in the report, a woman identified as Jane Doe said in 2019 that Epstein molested her at Zorro Ranch in 2004 when she was 15.
“As with any potential criminal matter, we will follow the facts wherever they lead, carefully evaluate jurisdictional considerations, and take appropriate investigative action, including the collection and preservation of any relevant evidence that remains available,” the New Mexico Department of Justice said in a statement.