Foreign News
New Mexico sues US Justice Department over unredacted Epstein files
New Mexico has sued the US Department of Justice for access to unredacted files on the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, alleging the federal agency is stonewalling the state’s investigation into the late sex offender by refusing to provide documents.
The lawsuit escalates a dispute over the agency’s Epstein files, an issue that has dogged the Trump administration.
The state reopened its investigation in February and requested unredacted DOJ files to identify visitors and staff at Zorro Ranch, a property owned by Epstein near Stanley, New Mexico.
The US Department of Justice said it provided some files but was prevented from supplying other material due to privacy protections.
“Federal inaction does not merely stall the investigation; it prolongs and compounds the suffering of survivors,” the lawsuit argued, requesting that the US District Court for the District of Columbia compel acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche to release the files.
The DOJ responded that under the Epstein Files Transparency Act and protective court orders, it was neither required nor permitted to disclose victim-identifying information.
“New Mexico has provided no lawful basis to justify such sweeping disclosures,” a spokesperson said.
Investigative hurdles
