New Mexico AG Sues DOJ To Release Unredacted Epstein Files
NEWS & RESEARCH
In early August 2026, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez sued the US Department of Justice seeking release of unredacted files relevant to Epstein’s activities at his Zorro Ranch near Santa Fe allegedly used to traffic and abuse young women. The ranch is mentioned more than 10,000 times in the Epstein files. Torrez accused Acting US AG Todd Blanche of “stonewalling” his state’s inquiry. DOJ, which had publicly released files naming survivors, claims it would violate a court’s protective order to release the files which purportedly include names of survivors, witnesses, and co-conspirators. To date, DOJ has released slightly more than half of the estimated six million Epstein files, many of which were heavily redacted. President Trump labeled reports of his own inclusion in the documents a “hoax.” An NPR investigation revealed that DOJ intentionally withheld documents mentioning Trump—including allegations of sexual abuse of a minor—before eventually releasing a portion of the missing records. Although Trump maintains he had no idea about Epstein’s pedophilia, then-Palm Beach police chief says Trump called him in 2006, just before Epstein’s arrest, and told the chief that Epstein’s exploits were known by “everyone.” Trump’s name appears in the Epstein files at least 38,000 times.
SOURCES: NPR | Politico | NPR | NBC News | Politico
ANALYSIS & OPINION
AG Torrez’s complaint asks for a declaration that Blanche and DOJ acted illegally in refusing to hand over evidence it had about events at Zorro and asks the court to direct the department to comply with the Epstein transparency law and regulations governing how federal agencies handle requests for official documents during litigation. The New York Times editorial board had earlier described the administration’s handling of the files as a “case study” in the abuse of power and public manipulation. It also triggered a rift within the GOP: MAGA influencers and officials, including Dan Bongino and Marjorie Taylor Greene, sharply criticized the lack of transparency. The internal friction led to Greene’s resignation from Congress after she faced retaliatory attacks from the president.
SOURCES: New York Times | CNBC | CNN | The Guardian
HOW TO FIX IT
Congressional action:
Investigate Interference: Probe the DOJ’s efforts to suppress evidence, specifically the role of Todd Blanche.
Ensure Accountability: Support non-partisan investigations into all Epstein associates, regardless of political affiliation.
Protect Transparency: Block any attempts to stall lawsuits regarding the administration’s handling of these files.
