New Mexico reopens investigation linked to Epstein's former Zorro Ranch

1 hour ago 3

New Mexico's lawyer wide has reopened an probe into allegations of amerciable enactment astatine Jeffrey Epstein s erstwhile Zorro Ranch.

Attorney General Raúl Torrez's bureau made the announcement Thursday, saying the determination was made aft reviewing accusation successful the alleged Epstein files precocious released by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Although New Mexico's archetypal case was closed successful 2019 astatine the petition of national prosecutors successful New York, authorities prosecutors accidental present that "revelations outlined successful the antecedently sealed FBI files warrant further examination."

The New Mexico Department of Justice said peculiar agents and prosecutors astatine the bureau volition beryllium seeking contiguous entree to the complete, unredacted national lawsuit record and mean to enactment with different instrumentality enforcement partners arsenic good arsenic a caller information committee established by authorities lawmakers to look into activities astatine the ranch.

"As with immoderate imaginable transgression matter, we volition travel the facts wherever they lead, cautiously measure jurisdictional considerations, and instrumentality due investigative action, including the postulation and preservation of immoderate applicable grounds that remains available," the New Mexico Department of Justice said successful a statement.

While Epstein ne'er faced charges in New Mexico, authorities prosecutors confirmed successful 2019 that they had interviewed imaginable victims who visited the ranch southbound of Santa Fe. They ne'er elaborated connected however galore accusers were interviewed oregon what they accidental took spot astatine the ranch.

The New Mexico Department of Justice did not instantly respond to emailed questions astir wherefore authorities prosecutors were requested to adjacent the probe successful 2019 oregon whether determination were circumstantial allegations elaborate wrong the caller filings that were released that prompted reopening the investigation.

Reuters quality bureau reported that New Mexico's Department of Justice is looking into an unverified allegation from a 2019 email successful the Epstein files that claimed the bodies of 2 overseas girls were buried extracurricular the property. A spokesperson told Reuters the section has requested an unredacted transcript of the email from the U.S. Department of Justice.

"To cognize that idiosyncratic reported imaginable bodies being buried connected this spot is horrifying and indispensable beryllium brought to justness immediately," New Mexico authorities typical Andrea Romero told CBS News.

On Tuesday, New Mexico's information committee had its archetypal meeting. The bipartisan, four-member sheet of authorities House representatives is charged with investigating allegations that the ranch whitethorn person facilitated intersexual maltreatment and enactment trafficking.

New Mexico lawmakers besides said they privation to cognize wherefore Epstein was not registered arsenic a enactment offender determination aft pleading blameworthy successful 2008 to soliciting prostitution from an underage miss and whether determination was corruption among nationalist officials.

Epstein purchased the sprawling Zorro Ranch successful New Mexico successful 1993 from erstwhile Democratic Gov. Bruce King and built a hilltop mansion. Nearby was a backstage airstrip with a hangar and helipad. The spot besides included a ranch office, a firehouse and a seven-bay heated garage.

The spot was sold by Epstein's property successful 2023 — with proceeds going toward creditors — to the household of Don Huffines, a Republican moving for authorities comptroller successful Texas. In a societal media station connected X, Huffines said the spot has been renamed San Rafael Ranch aft a saint associated with healing and that his household plans to run a Christian retreat there.

A spokesperson for Huffines has said that the owners person ne'er been approached by local, authorities oregon national instrumentality enforcement requesting entree to the ranch and if they do, afloat practice volition beryllium granted.

There are thousands of references to the ranch successful the documents released by national authorities.

Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, was among the guests to person visited the ranch erstwhile Epstein owned it. Following 1 of the aboriginal investigations into the disgraced financier, Richardson donated $50,000 successful 2006 gubernatorial run contributions from Epstein to charity.

Richardson, who died astatine property 75 successful 2023, besides appeared successful a formation log arsenic having travelled successful 2011 connected Epstein's chopper from the British Virgin Islands to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Brian Condit, Richardson's main of staff, was besides listed arsenic a rider and told CBS News past twelvemonth that they did not sojourn the backstage spot Epstein owned there.

New Mexico Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard successful 2019 canceled grazing leases held by the ranch aft her bureau was denied entree to inspect the astir 2 quadrate miles of leased authorities land.

Garcia Richard successful a missive sent past week called connected national authorities and authorities prosecutors to guarantee a thorough transgression probe into allegations related to the ranch. She called the allegations included successful the latest documents "deeply disturbing."

"People merit to cognize the information astir what happened connected Epstein's ranch and are looking to leaders for answers," she said successful a statement.

News of the New Mexico probe came the aforesaid time arsenic different large improvement linked to the Epstein files: the arrest of the erstwhile Prince Andrew successful the U.K.

That lawsuit relates to what constabulary called "suspicion of misconduct successful nationalist office," not accusations involving young women. Documents released by the Justice Department appear to show that erstwhile Andrew was moving arsenic a British commercialized envoy helium whitethorn person shared confidential authorities accusation with Epstein.

In: