New Mexico attorney general sues DOJ over Epstein files he says are needed for state probe

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to force the Department of Justice to turn over unredacted Epstein files he says are necessary to investigate Jeffrey Epstein's alleged crimes at the Zorro Ranch property that was formerly owned by the convicted sex offender.

Accusing the Department of Justice of "obstruction," the lawsuit said that Torrez's office has asked the DOJ for the records ten times since their investigation launched earlier this year, but have not received the necessary documents. 

"USDOJ and Acting Attorney General [Todd] Blanche are refusing to facilitate the investigation of state law crimes by hiding information about Epstein and his co-conspirators from Attorney General Torrez and state law enforcement, when New Mexico is one of few jurisdictions that still may have an opportunity to hold Epstein's associates accountable or otherwise provide some sense of justice to survivors," the complaint said. 

Filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., the lawsuit asked a judge to declare the Department of Justice's unwillingness to turn over all the records unlawful and force the turnover of the records. Torrez' office is seeking "complete and unredacted access to the Epstein files."

"They have continued to tell the public and members of Congress that they are cooperating with this office when they are not, and most importantly, they continue to withhold critical information that we think is essential to delivering justice to the victims and the survivors in this case," Torrez said in a call with reporters Tuesday afternoon. 

The Department of Justice has pushed back on New Mexico's claim that they are refusing to turn over the records, but Torrez argues that the few records he received are a fraction of the records he requires. Torrez says that Zorro Ranch appears in the Epstein files about 13,000 times, but the Department of Justice only provided them about 31 pages of materials -- mainly media clippings and past correspondence from his office, he said.

"USDOJ adopted an authoritative and categorical policy or practice to refuse to share investigative information with New Mexico authorities concerning Zorro Ranch and potential allegations of human trafficking and widespread sexual abuse of young women and minors, hampering the State's ability to investigate and prosecute these matters," the lawsuit said.

The Department of Justice has argued that the Epstein Files Transparency Act does not require they turn over the materials, and that handing over the materials to New Mexico could risk victims' privacy.

"The Epstein Files Transparency Act does not require, and the protective orders in place in the Southern District of New York do not permit, disclosure of victim-identifying information carte blanche, and New Mexico has provided no lawful basis to justify such sweeping disclosures," a DOJ spokesperson said. "Protecting victim privacy remains a top priority for the Department, and neither Touhy requests nor a desire to cooperate outweighs that privacy. DOJ remains available to assist New Mexico's investigation consistent with the law and binding court orders."

Torrez's lawsuit cites the Administrative Procedure Act to argue that the withholding of materials is arbitrary and unlawful.

New Mexico authorities reopened their investigation into Zorro Ranch in February after documents in the Epstein files raised concerns about the scope of Epstein's crimes at the property. The state's initial investigation was halted at the request of federal prosecutors, who never searched the property, according to emails release by the DOJ.

Torrez argues New Mexico's investigation into Zorro Ranch is the only active investigation in the United States into Epstein's associates.