{"id":430806,"date":"2026-02-20T16:59:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T22:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=430806"},"modified":"2026-02-24T17:57:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T23:57:50","slug":"source-new-mexico-state-reopens-investigation-into-property-once-owned-by-jeffrey-epstein","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2026\/02\/20\/source-new-mexico-state-reopens-investigation-into-property-once-owned-by-jeffrey-epstein\/","title":{"rendered":"Source New Mexico: State reopens investigation into property once owned by Jeffrey Epstein"},"content":{"rendered":" \"New
The seal of the state of New Mexico can be seen at the State Capitol building, also known as the Roundhouse, in Santa Fe. Photo: Joanne C Sullivan<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n
New Mexico Attorney General reopens criminal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s Zorro Ranch<\/div>\r\n
Friday, February 20, 2026<\/div>\r\n
By Source NM Staff, Source New Mexico<\/a> <\/div>\r\n

<\/P>\r\n

New Mexico Attorney General Ra\u00fal Torrez announced Thursday that the state Department of Justice had reopened the criminal investigation into illegal activities at renowned sex offender Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s Zorro Ranch<\/a> in Santa Fe County.<\/p>

NMDOJ Chief of Staff Lauren Rodriguez noted in a statement that the state closed a previous investigation into Zorro Ranch in 2019 at the request of the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for the Southern District of New York. But information outlined in previously sealed FBI files \u201cwarrant further examination,\u201d she said, and the NMDOJ will be seeking access to the un-redacted files.<\/p>

\u200b\u200bFormer New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas in a Tuesday email to Source NM said that his office investigated Epstein\u2019s and conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell\u2019s actions at Zorro ranch before federal officials asked him to shelve the query.<\/p>

Rodriguez said the NMDOJ will also be working with the newly formed New Mexico House subcommittee<\/a> approved during the 30-day session to investigate Epstein\u2019s activities at the ranch during his time in New Mexico. The new Epstein \u201ctruth commission,\u201d which has $2 million in funding for its work, held its first meeting on Tuesday<\/a>, and will be hiring investigators, legal experts and support staff, Chair state Rep. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe) has said.<\/p>

\u201cAs 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,\u201d Rodriguez said. \u201cWe are moving quickly and deliberately on this issue and will provide updates as appropriate.\u201d<\/p>

Asked about the new criminal investigation and commission on Thursday during a news conference following the end of the legislative session, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham touted the latter as an example of the Legislature being willing to wade into \u201ctricky\u201d issues and \u201canother environment where we aren\u2019t shy about accountability in a multitude of ways.\u201d<\/p>

Lujan Grisham also referred to recently unveiled allegations<\/a> of potential victims\u2019 bodies being buried near the Zorro Ranch in southern Santa Fe County.<\/p>

\u201cWe don\u2019t care who you are here,\u201d she said. \u201cIf you did something and you\u2019re associated in these Epstein cases, and you perpetrated a crime, and there are still victims, there are potentially deaths and bodies, we will find it.\u201d<\/p>

The effort to discover what occurred in New Mexico, she said, \u201cwill be a statewide effort\u201d and she thanked the Legislature and Romero for recognizing \u201cwe all have an obligation to find the truth.\u201d<\/p>