A bipartisan, four-member panel of state House representatives are investigating allegations that the ranch may have facilitated sexual abuse and sex trafficking.
New Mexico lawmakers also say they want to know why Epstein was not registered as a sex offender after pleading guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl and whether there was corruption among public officials.
Democratic state Representative Marianna Anaya of Albuquerque, a member of the truth commission, urged people to come forward with information about any abuse at the ranch linked to Epstein and other people who made it possible, at a news conference today.
“That perpetrator could not act alone. 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, including the state itself, if needed,” said Anaya.
“If you do want to share, we’ll be here and we will be operating with confidentiality.”
Revelations of ties to Epstein have led to the departure or ousting of multiple high-profile people in recent days.
Epstein purchased the sprawling Zorro Ranch in New Mexico in 1993 from former Democratic Governor Bruce King and built a 2480-square-metre hilltop mansion with a private runway.
The property was sold by Epstein’s estate in 2023 — with proceeds going to creditors — to the family of Don Huffines, a Republican candidate in Texas for statewide election to the office of comptroller.
In a social media post on X, Huffines said the property has been renamed San Rafael Ranch after a saint associated with healing and that his family plans to operate a Christian retreat there.
Huffines said any request by law enforcement for access would be met with immediate and full cooperation.
Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges that he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of underage girls.
Truth commission chairwoman and state Representative Andrea Romero of Santa Fe has said that several survivors of Epstein’s abuse have signalled that sex trafficking activity extended to the ranch, which is about 56 kilometres south of Santa Fe.
“We’ve heard years of allegations and rumours about Epstein’s activities here. But unfortunately, federal investigations have failed to put together an official record,” Romero said today.
“This truth commission will finally fill in the gaps of what we need to know.”
Commission members also include retired FBI agent and Republican state Representative William Hall of Aztec and former district attorney and Representative Andrea Reeb of Clovis.
State House legislators who were present voted unanimously on Monday to create the commission with subpoena power and a budget of over $2 million ($AUD2.8 million)
While Epstein never faced charges in New Mexico, the state attorney general’s office in 2019 confirmed that it was investigating and had interviewed possible victims who visited the ranch.
In 2023, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez ordered an investigation into financial businesses utilised by Epstein and their legal obligations, resulting in agreements with two banks that dedicate $23.9 million to the prevention of human trafficking, according to a spokesperson for Torrez’s office.
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