Daijiworld Media Network – Santa Fe
Santa Fe, Feb 17: Lawmakers in New Mexico have passed legislation to initiate what they describe as the first comprehensive state-level investigation into alleged sexual abuse and trafficking at Zorro Ranch, the sprawling estate owned by late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The bipartisan measure, approved unanimously by the state’s House of Representatives, establishes a four-member “truth commission” tasked with examining activities at the 7,600-acre ranch located about 30 miles south of Santa Fe. The committee will seek testimony from survivors of alleged abuse and from local residents, while also identifying ranch guests and state officials who may have been aware of or involved in misconduct.
The commission, backed by $2.5 million in funding and armed with subpoena powers, will begin work on Tuesday. Interim findings are expected in July, with a final report due by year-end. Lawmakers said testimony gathered could potentially be used in future prosecutions.
Epstein died in 2019 in a New York jail in what was ruled a suicide while he was facing federal sex trafficking charges. Federal investigations largely focused on his Caribbean island and New York townhouse, with victim advocates arguing that alleged crimes in New Mexico did not receive comparable scrutiny.
The renewed probe follows the release of millions of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice that shed light on Epstein’s connections in New Mexico. The files reference ties between Epstein and two former Democratic governors, as well as a former state attorney general.
Epstein purchased Zorro Ranch in 1993 from former governor Bruce King, who died in 2009. In later years, allegations surfaced involving former governor Bill Richardson, who denied claims made by the late Virginia Giuffre that she was directed to provide him a “massage” at the ranch.
Former state Attorney General Hector Balderas launched a probe in 2019, but said it was paused at the request of federal prosecutors to avoid a parallel investigation. Current Attorney General Raul Torrez has since assigned a special agent to review any new allegations emerging from the truth commission.
Emails contained in the released files also mention Gary King, son of Bruce King and a former attorney general, who reportedly flew on a plane chartered by Epstein during his 2014 gubernatorial campaign.
Attorney Sigrid McCawley, who has represented numerous Epstein survivors, welcomed the state initiative, noting that several victims reported abuse in New Mexico. In the documentary Surviving Jeffrey Epstein, former Santa Fe massage therapist Rachel Benavidez alleged she was sexually abused while working at the ranch.
Lawmakers behind the measure said the investigation also aims to examine potential gaps in state law that may have allowed Epstein to operate without accountability for years. Parallel legislation is being drafted to extend the statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault, potentially enabling more survivors to pursue civil action.
With the launch of the commission, New Mexico joins the growing effort to reassess the full scope of Epstein’s activities and the network of individuals who may have been connected to operations at Zorro Ranch.