Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in Stanley, New Mexico.Image: keystone
July 15, 2026, 6:33 p.mJuly 15, 2026, 6:33 p.m
The New Mexico state prosecutor’s office has accused the US Department of Justice of obstructing its criminal investigation into possible criminal activity at a ranch owned by sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Ministry of Justice is refusing to cooperate and does not want to release urgently needed unredacted files, said the state’s top prosecutor, Raúl Torrez. A spokesman for the Justice Department described the accusation to the news portal “Axios” as “false”. Passing on these files unredacted would violate the law.
The investigation into Epstein in New Mexico was originally closed in 2019 at the request of the Southern District Attorney’s Office in New York. At the center of the investigation is the “Zorro Ranch,” which is said to have belonged to Epstein. According to media reports, sexual abuse and human trafficking are said to have occurred there. After the Justice Department published millions of Epstein files a few months ago – although some of them were redacted – the public prosecutor’s office in New Mexico announced that it wanted to reopen the investigation.
The multimillionaire Epstein had run an abuse ring for years, to which numerous young women and minors fell victim. There are said to have been many influential people among his clients.
Almost 20 years ago, allegations first came to court and Epstein pleaded guilty to certain counts. Years later, the case was reopened and the multimillionaire was arrested again. Even before a possible further verdict could be made, the financier died in his prison cell on August 10, 2019 at the age of 66. The autopsy report listed suicide as the cause of death. (sda/dpa)