SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — On Tuesday, state legislators in New Mexico initiated an investigation into the past activities at Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch, a secluded desert estate where he allegedly hosted various guests. The focus of this bipartisan effort is to examine potential facilitation of sexual abuse and sex trafficking at the ranch, as well as the possibility that local authorities may have ignored such activities.
A four-member panel from the New Mexico House of Representatives is spearheading the investigation. Lawmakers are concerned about the lack of registration for Epstein as a sex offender, despite his 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. Additionally, they aim to investigate potential corruption among public officials that could have allowed Epstein's activities to continue unchecked.
Democratic state Representative Marianna Anaya of Albuquerque, who is part of the truth commission, has called for individuals with information concerning abuse at Zorro Ranch to come forward. "That perpetrator could not act alone," Anaya emphasized at a press conference. "They could not run a sex ring alone, they could not commit these types of financial crimes alone. So we know as a commission that enablers must also be held accountable." Anaya assures anonymity for those who choose to share their experiences.
The revelations surrounding Epstein have already resulted in significant consequences, including the removal or resignation of several prominent figures in recent days. Epstein purchased Zorro Ranch in 1993 from former New Mexico Governor Bruce King, constructing a large estate that includes a 26,700-square-foot mansion and a private runway. In 2023, the property was sold by Epstein's estate, with the proceeds directed towards creditors.
Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan correctional facility in 2019 while awaiting trial on numerous charges including the sexual abuse and trafficking of underage girls. Truth commission chairwoman, Andrea Romero, a state Representative from Santa Fe, stated that several survivors have indicated that sex trafficking activities may have been conducted at the ranch, located approximately 35 miles south of Santa Fe.
Although Epstein was never charged in New Mexico, the state attorney general's office confirmed in 2019 that it was conducting an investigation and had spoken to potential victims who visited the ranch. Earlier in 2023, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez initiated an inquiry into the financial operations associated with Epstein, leading to agreements with two banks to allocate $17 million towards human trafficking prevention efforts.
