The state of New Mexico is suing the US Department of Justice and the newly confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche. The lawsuit alleges that federal officials withheld records critical to investigations of Jeffrey Epstein’s former ranch.

State prosecutors say the missing evidence could prevent them from identifying others responsible for abuse.

Officials accused of actively undermining a criminal investigation

Amid much controversy, Todd Blanche was recently confirmed as US Attorney General (AG). At the same time, New Mexico officials claim their investigations into reports of sexual abuse at Jeffrey Epstein’s former New Mexico ranch have been held up by Blanche when he was acting AG as well as the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Witnesses at Epstein’s partner Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2021 sex trafficking trial alleged that Epstein and Maxwell sexually abused women at his Zorro Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico. A DOJ prosecution memo also describes a sexual assault there involving another woman. Despite this, according to New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, federal prosecutors never prioritized Epstein’s alleged offenses in his state. Instead, they focused on crimes committed in New York, Florida, and the US Virgin Islands.

Responses to requests for information were unsatisfactory.

NBC News reports:

“The lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., said the department and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stonewalled New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez’s criminal investigation into Epstein and others, taking steps that ‘actively harms victims and undermines the public interest.’”

State investigators say they made 10 requests for information that could identify survivors, potential co-conspirators, and others connected to alleged crimes at the ranch. Every request was denied or ignored.

Now, Torrez is suing the DOJ and the Attorney General.

Tell me more