New Mexico Accuses Trump's Prosecutor of Blocking Epstein Case Files

The state of New Mexico filed suit on Wednesday against interim U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and the Department of Justice (DOJ), demanding the release of unredacted files related to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his Zorro Ranch property, arguing that the withholding of these documents is obstructing the state's inquiries.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, contends that the Department of Justice has failed to meet its obligations by denying access to documents that, according to New Mexico, are relevant to advancing the state's investigation into allegations of abuse and sexual exploitation linked to Epstein.

The court filing states that the federal refusal is "preventing the state from conducting a complete criminal investigation" and is hindering efforts to identify potential victims, witnesses, and other individuals responsible.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez argues in the lawsuit that the Department of Justice is withholding information that could be key to clarifying what occurred at Zorro Ranch, located in Santa Fe County.

"The Department of Justice is obstructing our criminal investigation by refusing to provide the unredacted Epstein files," the filing states before the federal court in Washington.

According to the lawsuit, federal authorities asked New Mexico in 2019 to suspend its own investigation into Zorro Ranch while a federal probe moved forward, with a commitment to later share the information gathered.

The state maintains that this collaboration never materialized and that the DOJ continues to withhold documents that could help advance the investigation.

The action against Blanche comes as the Senate has yet to confirm him permanently as Attorney General, amid questions from some Republican lawmakers over his role in an attempt to create a $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate individuals who claimed to have been victims of an alleged "politicization" of the judicial system—an initiative that drew criticism over its potential benefit to allies of President Donald Trump.