New Mexico Lawmakers Launch Bipartisan Investigation into Epstein's Former Zorro Ranch
New Mexico legislators have initiated a comprehensive investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's former Zorro Ranch property following disturbing allegations of sexual abuse occurring at the rural estate. The state's House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation on Monday establishing a bipartisan "truth commission" specifically tasked with examining claims of abuse that reportedly took place at the Santa Fe-area property during Epstein's ownership.
Unanswered Questions About Law Enforcement Response
Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) emphasized in a video address Monday that the investigation aims to uncover why crimes reported to both federal and state authorities were never thoroughly investigated. "Our goal is to understand why the crimes that were reported to federal and state authorities were never fully investigated," Stansbury stated, "and to ensure that we have safeguards in place to not only hold those individuals accountable who were complicit, but to ensure that this never happens again in our state."
The commission faces strict deadlines, with an interim report due by the end of July and a comprehensive final report required by year's end. According to the resolution, the final document will detail the committee's investigative procedures, findings, conclusions, and specific recommendations for future action.
Property's Troubled History and Recent Ownership
Epstein owned the sprawling 7,500-acre property from 1993 until his death in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The ranch, located near Stanley, New Mexico, was purchased in 2023 by Texas businessman and former Republican state Senator Donald Huffines, who is currently campaigning for comptroller in Texas. A spokesperson for Huffines' family confirmed the purchase to the Santa Fe New Mexican, noting that Huffines—who describes himself as "a courageous MAGA Republican"—never visited the property before acquiring it.
Stansbury highlighted what she called the "interesting" nature of Huffines' purchase, particularly his use of a Limited Liability Company that allowed for anonymous completion of the transaction. She also noted that Huffines' son previously worked in the Trump administration, though she clarified that "we don't know if these ties mean anything."
Multiple Allegations and Unresolved Claims
Several civil lawsuits have accused Epstein of sexually assaulting underage girls at the Zorro Ranch during his ownership, though he was never formally charged in connection with these specific allegations. Among the alleged survivors is the late Virginia Giuffre, who provided photographs in a 2015 court document that she claimed were taken of herself at the New Mexico property.
Stansbury detailed some of the most serious allegations during legislative discussions, including claims that two women were killed and buried on the property following sexual acts. These assertions prompted New Mexico Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard to call for federal and state law enforcement to investigate public lands surrounding the former Epstein property.
"I'm horrified when I learned something new, especially when I learned that state land could have been used, could have been involved in some of these monstrous activities," Richard told Albuquerque television station KRQE.
Official Response and Continuing Investigation
The New Mexico Department of Justice responded to Richard's concerns in a letter obtained by KRQE, describing the body burial allegations as "unsubstantiated" and indicating that additional information would be necessary before determining whether further investigative action is warranted. Representatives for Donald Huffines did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the investigation or the property's history.
The bipartisan commission now faces the challenging task of unraveling decades of allegations while examining why previous reports to law enforcement agencies failed to result in comprehensive investigations. As Stansbury emphasized, multiple survivors have reported abuse at the property, making the truth commission's work crucial for both accountability and prevention of future abuses in New Mexico.
