New Mexico's Attorney General Raul Torrez has accused the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) of impeding the state's investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The accusation was made in a letter dated June 30, which Torrez released publicly on Thursday, detailing a pattern of unanswered requests for records dating back to February.

This move escalates tensions between the state's top legal official and the administration of President Donald Trump. The investigation focuses on Epstein's activities at his Zorro Ranch property in central New Mexico, a sprawling complex where allegations of sex trafficking have surfaced but have not been fully investigated.

In his letter, Torrez stated that despite verbal assurances of cooperation from the USDOJ, access to crucial records has been denied, and no substantive response has been provided for over 130 days. He described this delay as an "unreasonable delay under any rule of reason," emphasizing the harm it is causing the state's probe.

The state of New Mexico reopened its investigation into Epstein in February, following the federal government's release of millions of files related to the convicted sex offender. These documents included records pertaining to Epstein's time at the Zorro Ranch, which he owned from 1993 onwards.

New Mexico had previously attempted to investigate Epstein's activities on the ranch in 2019. However, then-State Attorney General Hector Balderas reportedly suspended the state's work at the request of federal prosecutors to allow them to pursue their own case. Torrez indicated his intention to complete the investigation his predecessor started, but highlighted that federal inaction is now hindering progress.

Jeffrey Epstein was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution in Florida in 2008, receiving a 13-month prison sentence. At the time of his death in 2019, he was awaiting trial on federal charges related to allegations of orchestrating a sex-trafficking ring. Victims are estimated to number in the hundreds.

The resurfacing of questions surrounding Epstein's crimes gained momentum in 2025, particularly following the second administration's involvement. The state's investigation aims to address the alleged sex trafficking on the Zorro Ranch, a matter that has remained largely unaddressed.

Torrez asserted that the USDOJ now possesses the very records necessary for the New Mexico Department of Justice to resume its investigation, which was initially interrupted by federal intervention.