As Todd Blanche's confirmation nears, New Mexico is suing the DOJ over access to Jeffrey Epstein records.
President Donald Trumpâs nominee to serve as attorney general, Todd Blanche, is facing fresh scrutiny after New Mexico filed a lawsuit accusing the Justice Department of withholding records tied to Jeffrey Epsteinâs activities at his sprawling Zorro Ranch property outside Santa Fe.
The lawsuit names both Blanche, who is currently serving as acting attorney general, and the DOJ as defendants.
The legal challenge comes as Blancheâs nomination moves through the U.S. Senate, where questions surrounding the Justice Departmentâs handling of Epstein-related records have become a major point of contention. New Mexico Attorney General RaĂșl Torrez, a Democrat, argues the federal government has obstructed the stateâs efforts to investigate potential crimes connected to Epsteinâs New Mexico estate.
The Justice Department has rejected the allegations, saying some of the requested materials cannot be disclosed because court orders protect victim-identifying information.
âFederal court orders prohibit the disclosure of victim-identifying information carte blanche, and New Mexico has provided no lawful basis to justify such sweeping disclosures,â DOJ said in a statement. The department added that it remains willing to assist the stateâs investigation âconsistent with the law and binding court orders.â
Newsweek has reached out to the DOJ and the New Mexico AG via email on Wednesday afternoon for comment.
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New Mexico Jeffrey Epstein Lawsuit: What We Know
New Mexicoâs lawsuit seeks a court order compelling the DOJ to turn over unredacted records related to Epstein and his Zorro Ranch property. State officials argue that access to the materials could help identify additional victims, witnesses and possible criminal conduct that occurred within New Mexico.
According to the complaint, New Mexico prosecutors have made numerous requests for information that they say were ignored, denied or delayed. Torrezâs office alleges federal officials agreed in 2019 to cooperate with state investigators once the federal Epstein investigation concluded, but that the promised cooperation never fully materialized.
The state says publicly released Epstein records contain thousands of references to both Zorro Ranch and New Mexico. Among the materials New Mexico is seeking are documents related to alleged abuse at the ranch, associates connected to the property and other records investigators believe could aid their ongoing probe.
âNew Mexico has a duty to protect survivors and investigate crimes committed in our state so that perpetrators can be held accountable,â Torrez said in a statement. âWe asked the Department of Justice to cooperate by providing access to records that may be critical to identifying victims, witnesses, and additional criminal conduct at Zorro Ranch. Their delay is actively hurting our criminal investigation and delaying justice Epstein survivors deserve.â
Who is New Mexico AG RaĂșl Torrez?
Torrez has emerged as the leading state official overseeing efforts to revisit allegations connected to Epsteinâs ranch. Since taking office in 2023, Torrez has pushed for renewed scrutiny of possible crimes that may have occurred in the state and has argued that New Mexico was overlooked during prior federal investigations.
Torrez has maintained that state authorities have an obligation to pursue any remaining leads tied to Epstein and his associates. In announcing the lawsuit, he said delays in obtaining records were harming the stateâs investigation and postponing justice for survivors.
What is Zorro Ranch?
For more than two decades, Zorro Ranch served as Epsteinâs New Mexico base. Purchased in 1993, the roughly 10,000-acre compound featured a large mansion, private runway and extensive ranch land, becoming one of several high-profile properties linked to the disgraced financier.
When Could Todd Blanche Be Confirmed as Attorney General?
Blancheâs nomination advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee this week on a party-line vote, clearing a major procedural hurdle. However, his path to confirmation remains under close watch as some Republicans have previously expressed concerns about issues ranging from DOJ policies over Trumpâs anti-weaponization fund to the handling of Epstein-related records.
The timing of a final Senate vote remains dependent on Senate leadership and floor scheduling. If Republican support holds, Blanche could receive a confirmation vote in the coming days, though any additional controversy surrounding the Epstein files could intensify scrutiny during the final stage of the process.
Did Jeffrey Epstein Leave a Will?
Epstein signed a will just days before his death in August 2019. The document placed much of his estimated fortune into a trust, a move that later became the subject of legal disputes involving creditors and some of Epsteinâs accusers.
The existence of the trust complicated efforts to determine how Epsteinâs assets would be distributed and played a significant role in subsequent court proceedings. While the will has long been public, questions surrounding Epsteinâs finances, associates and activities at properties including Zorro Ranch have continued to generate legal and political scrutiny years after his death.
