New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice, seeking access to unredacted files related to Jeffrey Epstein's ranch.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday against the U.S. Department of Justice and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. The legal action alleges that federal authorities are obstructing a state-led criminal investigation into sex crimes at Jeffrey Epstein’s ranch near Santa Fe. Torrez claims his office has been denied access to critical information necessary to hold Epstein's associates accountable.

Allegations of Obstruction

The lawsuit contends that the Justice Department has engaged in "sustained resistance" against state investigators, despite standard practices of information-sharing between state and federal agencies. Torrez stated that his office has submitted 10 separate requests for information that were either ignored or denied. He accused the department of choosing to "stonewall" and "conceal" evidence that could provide justice to survivors.

Justice Department Response

In response, the Justice Department stated that it cannot fulfill the request for unredacted files because federal court orders prohibit the disclosure of victim-identifying information. The department emphasized that protecting victim privacy is a priority and asserted that New Mexico has not provided a lawful basis for such broad disclosures. Officials maintained that they remain available to assist the state investigation in a manner consistent with the law.

Context of the Investigation

The lawsuit coincides with a report released by the New Mexico House of Representatives, which criticized federal prosecutors in New York for their role in the handling of the Epstein case. Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in a New York City federal jail in August 2019, one month after being arrested on sex trafficking charges.