By Newspot Nigeria Global Desk
New Mexico lawmakers investigating Jeffrey Epstein’s activities at Zorro Ranch have issued the first round of subpoenas in what officials describe as a major step toward uncovering what happened at the late financier’s former property.
The bipartisan New Mexico Truth Commission approved 14 subpoenas targeting federal, state, financial, academic and private entities linked to Epstein’s years in the state. The subpoenas are aimed at institutions rather than named individuals at this stage.
Among the entities reportedly targeted are the FBI, the U.S. Department of Justice, the New Mexico Department of Justice, the New Mexico Governor’s Office, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, the Santa Fe Institute and Epstein’s estate.
The commission is examining allegations of sex trafficking, abuse, institutional failure and the network of people and organisations that may have enabled Epstein’s operations in New Mexico over several decades.
Epstein owned Zorro Ranch, a vast property near Santa Fe, for many years before his death in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
At the latest hearing, survivors and relatives of survivors gave testimony before the panel. Rachel Benavidez, who has alleged abuse connected to Epstein’s New Mexico property, was among those who addressed the commission.
Relatives of the late Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, also appeared before the panel as lawmakers seek to build a fuller public record of survivor accounts.
The inquiry is also expected to examine allegations that earlier investigations failed to adequately pursue claims connected to Zorro Ranch.
New Mexico officials have separately been reviewing an allegation linked to a redacted 2019 Department of Justice email claiming that two foreign girls were killed and buried near the property. Authorities have not confirmed the claim and are seeking further information to determine whether any forensic search is necessary.
Commission chair Rep. Andrea Romero has said the panel is focused on building a serious evidentiary record rather than rushing its work for headlines.
An interim report is expected in July, while a broader report is expected later in the year. The commission may also recommend criminal referrals, civil action or legislative reforms depending on what its investigation uncovers.
The New Mexico inquiry is being closely watched because it is one of the most aggressive state-level efforts yet to examine Epstein’s activities outside New York, Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
For survivors, the investigation represents another opportunity to force public institutions to explain what they knew, what they ignored and why Epstein was able to operate for so long despite repeated allegations against him.
— Newspot Nigeria
