FILE-In an aerial view, Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch is shown on March 8, 2026 outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Photo by Roberto E. Rosales/Getty Images)
New Mexico lawmakers investigating Jeffrey Epstein issued their first subpoenas requesting evening on Epstein from 14 organizations like federal law enforcement agencies and the state governor’s office.
Rachel Benavidez, a survivor of alleged sexual abuse at Epstein's New Mexico ranch, and relatives of the late Virginia Giuffre, another survivor, testified before the New Mexico Truth Commission.
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Reuters reported that the commission was established after the Department of Justice released millions of Epstein-related files that offered further details on activities at the late financier's Zorro Ranch located 30 miles south of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
This commission is probing allegations of sex trafficking and medical and scientific crimes on the ranch, and specific networks that permitted Epstein to operate in New Mexico for 26 years, Representative Marianna Anaya, a member of the committee, shared with Reuters.
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State Representative Andrea Reeb, another member, also told Reuters that the probe will investigate how state and federal agencies failed related to the Epstein case, before issuing subpoenas to people.
This investigation may also expand if officials can find evidence that public figures traveled to the Epstein ranch and participated in alleged sexual abuse.
According to Reuters, Epstein survivors are pushing for legislators in New York and Florida to start investigations into alleged abuse at Epstein’s homes in those states.
Who has the New Mexico commission sent subpoenas to?
Dig deeper:
New Mexico Representative Andrea Romero, chair of the Truth Commission, told Reuters that the group has subpoenaed Deutsche Bank, the FBI, the New Mexico Department of Justice, the New Mexico State Land Commission, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office and the Santa Fe Institute, a scientific foundation in the state's capital.
Who was Jeffrey Epstein?
The backstory:
Jeffrey Epstein was a millionaire known for having connections to celebrities, politicians, and billionaires. In 2005, Epstein was accused of paying a 14-year-old girl for sex, and he was arrested a year later following a police investigation.
The Associated Press reported that dozens of other underage girls described similar sexual abuse allegations to authorities, but prosecutors allowed Epstein to plead guilty in 2008 to a charge involving one victim. He served 13 months in a jail work-release program.
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In 2024, documents were unsealed as part of a 2015 lawsuit filed against Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell by Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims. According to the AP, Guiffre is one of the dozens of women who sued Epstein, saying he abused them at his homes in Florida, New York, the U.S. Virgin Islands and New Mexico.
Federal prosecutors in New York charged Epstein in 2019 with sex trafficking, but he killed himself in jail while awaiting trial. Maxwell was prosecuted for helping recruit his underage victims, and she was convicted in 2021 and is currently serving a 20-year prison term.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by Reuters, previous FOX Local reporting, and The Associated Press. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.