Jeffrey Epstein’s New Mexico ranch searched by state investigators
New Mexico state investigators searched a 7,600-acre property Monday that belonged to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The search came after documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act showed no record of federal investigators searching the property, known as Zorro Ranch, despite several years-old civil lawsuits accusing Epstein of sexually assaulting girls there — allegations for which he was never charged.
“This search is part of the criminal investigation announced by the New Mexico Department of Justice on February 19 into allegations of illegal activities at Epstein’s ranch prior to Epstein’s death in 2019,” the state agency said in a statement.
“The New Mexico Department of Justice appreciates the cooperation of the current owners in granting access to the research and expresses its thanks to the ranch staff for their professionalism,” the statement said, and “will continue to keep the public properly informed, support the survivors, and follow the facts wherever they lead.”
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, a Democrat, ordered the search. His office announced the opening of an investigation into Epstein last month, days after state lawmakers passed a law authorizing the opening of their own investigation into Epstein’s activities in the state.
The Legislature’s $2.5 million investigation, with subpoena power, aims to close loopholes in state law that could have allowed Epstein to operate in New Mexico with impunity. The committee is expected to release its interim findings in July and a final report by the end of the year.
The bill’s co-sponsor, Democratic Rep. Andrea Romero, said when the legislation passed last month that Epstein “basically did whatever he wanted in this state, with no accountability.”
When asked for comment last month on why federal investigators apparently did not examine the ranch, the Justice Department deferred to the FBI, which declined to comment. NBC News reached out to the Justice Department for additional response Tuesday.
Epstein died in a federal lockup in New York while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The FBI said it had more than 1,000 victims. Documents released by the Justice Department related to its investigation into Epstein’s activities show that investigators searched his properties in Manhattan and the U.S. Virgin Islands, but not in New Mexico, where he built a mansion of more than 30,000 square feet.
