New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice for withholding unredacted files regarding Jeffrey Epstein [1].
The legal action targets the federal government's refusal to share evidence related to alleged sex crimes at Epstein’s Zorro Ranch. The state argues that this lack of transparency prevents investigators from identifying perpetrators and victims of crimes committed on New Mexico soil.
According to the filing, the lawsuit was submitted on June 12, 2026 [1]. Torrez said the Department of Justice is blocking the state's ability to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities at the ranch.
The dispute centers on a 2019 intergovernmental agreement between the state of New Mexico and the federal government [1]. This agreement required two-way communication and the sharing of unredacted files to facilitate joint efforts in criminal probes.
New Mexico officials said the federal government has been stonewalling the process. The state contends that the Department of Justice is violating the terms of the 2019 pact by providing only redacted documents, which hide critical names and details, rather than the full files [2].
Investigators are focused on the Zorro Ranch property, where Epstein is alleged to have committed sex crimes [3]. The state argues that the federal government's current posture hinders the pursuit of justice for victims who may still be seeking redress.
The lawsuit seeks to compel the Department of Justice to release the unredacted materials immediately. State officials said the current impasse creates a barrier to the rule of law within the state's jurisdiction [2].
“New Mexico argues that this lack of transparency prevents investigators from identifying perpetrators and victims.”
This lawsuit highlights a significant jurisdictional conflict between state and federal authorities over the legacy of Jeffrey Epstein's operations. By challenging the DOJ in court, New Mexico is attempting to force a precedent regarding the sharing of federal evidence in state-led criminal probes, specifically where federal agencies are accused of prioritizing secrecy over intergovernmental cooperation agreements.
