New Mexico Lawmakers Launch Expansive Inquiry Into Epstein Property

New Mexico state lawmakers launched an expansive inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch outside of Santa Fe in a vote on Feb. 16.

New Mexico’s state house voted unanimously to form an investigatory subcommittee established to the late convicted sex offender’s actions following claims that the sexually abused and trafficked girls at the property, according to Source NM. Democrat New Mexico state Rep. Andrea Romero, the bill’s sponsor, said the subcommittee will be able to employ subpoena authority, public records and witness testimony to “put the whole story together.” (RELATED: Mike Johnson Calls Out Trump Admin, Defends Democrat Over Epstein Files Search)

Romero argued state residents “deserve to know the truth about what went on at the Zorro Ranch and who knew about it” in a statement after the vote. “We have heard years of allegations and rumors about Epstein’s activities in New Mexico, but unfortunately, federal investigations have failed to put together an official record.”

🚨 Breaking News in Epstein Case 🚨 The New Mexico Legislature has passed HR1 tonight to convene a Truth Commission and investigate Epstein’s crimes in NM, including at Zorro Ranch, led by State House Reps. Andrea Romero and Marianna Anaya.

The committee will hold its first… pic.twitter.com/eK2jPZGUqZ

— Rep. Melanie Stansbury (@Rep_Stansbury) February 17, 2026

“With this Truth Commission, we can finally fill in the gaps by investigating the failures that led to the horrific allegations of abuse and crime at Zorro Ranch, so we can learn from them and prevent such atrocities from taking place in our state going forward,” she continued.

The subcommittee will operate off a $2 million budget, all funded by the settlement between Democratic New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez and multiple financial service companies who allegedly failed to recognize abuses occurring at the ranch. It will last through the year’s close with the ability to be extended past the deadline.

Republican state legislators pressed Romero on questions, including if any further information has come out regarding allegations that two girls were buried close to the ranch, according to Source NM. New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard wrote to local and federal officials on Feb. 10 pressing them to look into “disturbing allegation” and report back on it, the outlet reported.

The Fact that Epstein’s Zorro Ranch was apparently not searched upon his arrest, or after his apparent death, and was unknown to most of us until the recent document release, is one of the more stunning facts of history. Something powerful is covering his crimes, for a reason. We… https://t.co/tB11QMC5oN

— Bret Weinstein (@BretWeinstein) February 17, 2026

The New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) sent a Feb. 13 letter to federal officials requesting unredacted versions of an anonymous 2019 email to an area radio host alleging that “foreign girls” were strangled to death at Zorro Ranch, according to Source NM. The email is among the collection of recently released Epstein documents but has not been varified, the NMDOJ said.

“While we have not yet received a response to our letter sent last Friday, we are reviewing all appropriate avenues to investigate the allegations raised, as well as any additional ones that may emerge,” NMDOJ Chief of Staff Lauren Rodriguez said. “We also continue to engage with Truth Commission leadership to ensure coordinated communication and meaningful participation in the ongoing fact-finding mission.”

The ranch appears throughout the public Epstein files released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and was a major part of testimony in convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial. (RELATED: Alleged Epstein Victim Says She Was Handed Off To Prince Andrew, Bill Richardson And More For Sex)

Epstein accuser Annie Farmer alleged during her testimony during Maxwell’s 2021 trial that both Maxwell and Epstein abused her at the Zorro ranch when she was 16-years-old, CBS News previously reported.

🚨 BREAKING: New Mexico lawmakers unanimously approve $2.5M “truth commission” with subpoena power to probe trafficking & sexual assault at Epstein’s Zorro Ranch. Starts tomorrow . And testimony can lead to prosecutions.

2019 email alleges Epstein & Maxwell buried two foreign… pic.twitter.com/VIbnW3I0QV

— The Epstein Files (@TheEpsteinFiles) February 17, 2026

Former New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas’ office said in 2019 that they were going to turn over any collected information into Epstein’s alleged activities to federal officials, New Mexico In Depth reported. There weren’t any charges filed by New Mexico prosecutors at the time.

The sprawling 7,500 acre property with a large mansion on site was owned by Epstein from 1993 until his 2019 death in a New York City prison cell while he awaited trial on charges related to sex trafficking minors. Epstein purchased the ranch from former Democrat New Mexico Gov. Bruce King in 1993, Source NM reported. The property boasted its own airstrip and helipad and was allegedly the site of sex trafficking, according to court documents.

Romero said the New Mexico Epstein subcommittee will meet for the first time early Feb. 17.

The Daily Caller reached out to Romero and NMDOJ for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.