{"id":2641119,"date":"2026-08-05T17:01:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T21:01:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nm-sues-doj-blanche-for-allegedly-blocking-state-epstein-investigation\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T17:04:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T21:04:23","slug":"nm-sues-doj-blanche-for-allegedly-blocking-state-epstein-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nm-sues-doj-blanche-for-allegedly-blocking-state-epstein-investigation\/","title":{"rendered":"NM sues DOJ, Blanche for allegedly blocking state Epstein investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnm-sues-doj-blanche-for-allegedly-blocking-state-epstein-investigation%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2641119&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>New Mexico filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Department of Justice and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to challenge their obstruction of the state&#8217;s examination into Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe County. The state, represented by attorney General Raul Torrez, claims that the DOJ and Blanche unlawfully blocked access to critical records needed to investigate possible crimes related to Epstein\u2019s activities on the property. While the DOJ cited court orders protecting victim-identifying facts as reason for withholding certain documents, Torrez accuses the department of deliberately delaying their investigation and is seeking a court order to force the release of unredacted files. The investigation into Epstein\u2019s Zorro Ranch was reopened by New Mexico in February, and the state has conducted at least one law enforcement search of the ranch. Despite assurances from federal investigators about cooperation, the state reports ongoing delays and lack of transparency, which Torrez says hampers justice for Epstein\u2019s survivors.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-mexico\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"769\">New Mexico<\/a> on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice and acting Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"20883\">Todd Blanche<\/a>, stymying the state\u2019s investigation into the late convicted sex offender <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeffrey-epstein\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1860\">Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The lawsuit was filed in federal court in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"260\">Washington, D.C.<\/a>, by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez. Torrez alleges that Blanche and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"438\">Justice Department<\/a> unlawfully blocked the state from investigating possible crimes at Epstein\u2019s Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe County.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4676591\/new-mexico-doj-todd-blanche-epstein-lawsuit\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>New Mexico sues DOJ and Todd Blanche for allegedly blocking state Epstein investigation<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4676317\/blanche-punts-trump-fire-pirro\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Blanche punts on whether Trump should fire Pirro: \u2018He has the power to do that\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4676005\/oxferd-comma-investigation-declassified-john-solomon-briefing\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>\u2018Oxferd Comma\u2019 investigation being declassified by White House, with John Solomon briefing<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNew Mexico has a duty to protect survivors and investigate crimes committed in our state so that perpetrators can be held accountable,\u201d Torrez said. \u201cWe asked the Department of Justice to cooperate by providing access to records that may be critical to identifying victims, witnesses, and additional criminal conduct at Zorro Ranch. Their delay is actively hurting our criminal investigation and delaying justice Epstein survivors deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epstein\u2019s Zorro Ranch is mentioned multiple times in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/epstein-files\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"17582\">Epstein files<\/a> released by the DOJ, and the state <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4464661\/new-mexico-investigation-epstein-zorro-ranch\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4464661\/new-mexico-investigation-epstein-zorro-ranch\/\">reopened its investigation<\/a> into the disgraced financier and his property in February. Since reopening the investigation in February, New Mexico has conducted the first law enforcement search of Zorro Ranch and argues that certain details, which are redacted in the files or have yet to be released, are needed from the DOJ to get to the bottom of what occurred on the property.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Torrez said federal investigators had asked the state to stand down in 2019 but promised to share relevant information when their investigation was complete.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe have heard repeatedly they will cooperate and what our team has experienced is anything but cooperation,\u201d Torrez said of the roughly 10 times his office has asked for more information from the DOJ.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DOJ said it was refusing to hand over certain information due to\u00a0federal court orders banning the disclosure of \u201cvictim-identifying information carte blanche, and New Mexico has provided no lawful basis to justify such sweeping disclosures.\u201d The department added that it is willing to work with the state to assist in the investigation, as long as the investigation remains consistent with \u201cbinding court orders.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Torrez, however, said the department is deliberately delaying the state investigation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4668227\/senate-resolution-ghislaine-maxwell-pardon-epstein\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4668227\/senate-resolution-ghislaine-maxwell-pardon-epstein\/\">SENATE APPROVES RESOLUTION OPPOSING GHISLAINE MAXWELL PARDON AMID EPSTEIN INVESTIGATION <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTodd Blanche today with a stroke of a pen could grant us the access that he claimed,\u201d he said. \u201cInstead they have decided to stonewall, to obstruct and to frankly conceal for whatever reason.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New Mexico is asking a federal judge to declare the DOJ\u2019s actions unlawful and order the department to hand over the unredacted Epstein files and related unreleased materials.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NM sues DOJ over Epstein investigation obstruction<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2641120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26048716314224.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[25914,7076,9006,3976,83740],"class_list":["post-2641119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-blanche","tag-doj","tag-epstein","tag-investigation","tag-nm-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26048716314224.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2641119"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641119\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2641122,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641119\/revisions\/2641122"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2641120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2641119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2641119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2641119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}