Epstein’s Zorro Ranch Back Under Scrutiny in New Mexico Probe

New Mexico’s lawmakers are now widening their search into what happened at Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch as state investigators reopen scrutiny of the scheduled property tied to the late financier and convicted s-- offender.

The push comes as Rep. Melanie Stansbury joins a congressional inquiry in Palm Beach, Florida, where lawmakers are reviewing how Epstein avoided tougher punishment in a 2008 s** crimes case and whether those failures opened the door for similar conduct in New Mexico.

Stansbury said investigators are trying to understand not only Epstein’s actions, but also the institutions that failed to stop him, or might have helped him in his crimes.

"And we really want to expose and understand not just how he was able to abuse survivors, but how he abused the systems themselves," Stansbury said.

The Congressional committee is interviewing survivors, witnesses, and law enforcement officials as it revisits the handling of Epstein’s Florida case. In 2008, Epstein avoided federal prosecution through a plea agreement after pleading guilty to procuring a person under 18 for prostitution.

Stansbury said the same questions now hang over New Mexico and Epstein’s huge ranch property.

"And so we're really looking to understand what exactly happened in West Palm Beach," she said.

She further added: "Why he was allowed to continue to abuse women, and how this system of abuse. Then he exported it and made New Mexico, ultimately his next victim.”

In February, New Mexico lawmakers created the Epstein Truth Commission, a bipartisan panel made up of four legislators. The group was formed to investigate whether state agencies failed to identify potential crimes happening at Zorro Ranch.

The commission has already hired an Albuquerque law firm with the authority to subpoena witnesses and compel testimony. Lawmakers said all proceedings and findings will be made public. Though no meeting has been scheduled.

Rep. Andrea Romero, who chairs the commission, said the investigation is meant to piece together a clearer account of Epstein’s operations in the state.

"We are hopeful that this team of people can help us tell the story of what happened at Zorro Ranch. And in the enterprise of Jeffrey Epstein over the course of that time, we've heard so many things around the various crimes, you know, our state even settled for financial crimes. What did that mean?" Romero said.

The investigation is New Mexico’s latest effort to examine Epstein’s offenses in the state. Earlier in March this year, the office of State Attorney General Raúl Torrez (New Mexico) also talked about searching Epstein’s property with the help of its current owners. The case was reopened in February 2026 after being shut in 2019.