The Trump administration is not co-operating with an investigation into crimes committed at Jeffrey Epstein’s ranch in New Mexico, the state’s attorney-general said.
Raul Torrez has written to acting federal attorney-general Todd Blanche demanding unredacted documents from the Epstein files in relation to their investigation.
Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in New Mexico. AP
Torrez said he had waited 130 days for the files.
“Without complete and prompt access to relevant unredacted records held by the United States Department of Justice, survivors of serious criminal conduct at Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in New Mexico are being denied justice,” Torrez said in his letter.
“That harm is a direct consequence of the (US Department of Justice)‘s continued failure to comply with the (New Mexico Department of Justice)’s outstanding records request.”
Zorro Ranch was owned by Epstein from 1993 until his death.
While nobody has been convicted of crimes at the ranch, more than a dozen women have alleged they were abused by Epstein at the property.
Torrez said he wrote to Blanche twice since February and requested a meeting without response in June.
“Despite verbal assurances of cooperation from the USDOJ, access to the requested records has not been granted, no substantive response has been provided,” Torrez wrote.
Donald Trump appointed Todd Blanche as acting attorney-general after he served as his personal lawyer in the Stormy Daniels hush money trial. nna\miriah.davis
“The NMDOJ views this length of time as an unreasonable delay under any rule of reason.”
He wrote the withholding of records was causing “real and escalating harm” to the criminal investigation.
Without the files, the investigators are unable to identify and contact victims and witnesses.
“Every avenue of investigation that begins with a redacted name, a blacked-out face, or an obscured date is an avenue that ends before it begins,” Torrez wrote.
“Every day that the USDOJ withholds these records, the foundation upon which a New Mexico prosecution could be built erodes.
“Witnesses relocate and become unreachable. Memories, already strained by years of trauma, fade further.
“Physical and documentary evidence degrades, is lost, or is rendered more difficult to authenticate with the passage of time.”
The entrance of the San Rafael Ranch, which was previously owned by Jeffrey Epstein and called the Zorro Ranch. AP
Among the redacted files in the Epstein investigation is an unsubstantiated allegation that “two foreign girls were buried on orders of Jeffrey and Madam G”.
A US Department of Justice spokesperson said in a statement that the agency had “substantially responded last month” to requests from New Mexico.
“The DOJ reiterates that it welcomes New Mexico undertaking additional investigation of the Zorro Ranch and stands ready to provide necessary assistance with New Mexico’s investigation,” the statement read.
Zorro Ranch is a 10,000 acre property in the New Mexico desert which includes a mansion and an airstrip.
It has now been bought by Texas state comptroller Don Huffines.
The Republican politician said he intends to turn the property into a Christian retreat.