Latest / The Epstein Chronicles / The Zorro Ranch Touhy Letter and the Records New Mexico Wants (10/14/26)

Transcript

The Zorro Ranch Touhy Letter and the Records New Mexico Wants (10/14/26) · The Epstein Chronicles

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: What's up everyone and welcome to another episode of the
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: Epstein Chronicles. In this episode, we're going to take a
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: look at the TUI letter that was sent to the
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: Department of Justice by the state of New Mexico. And
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: this was the letter that got the whole lawsuit kicked off. So,
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: let's dive in. First Assistant United States Attorney Ellison and
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: Special Agent in Charge Garris. In February 2026, the New
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: Mexico Department of Justice, MDOJ, reopened its investigation into allegations
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: of criminal activity involving Jeffrey Epstein and Glaine Maxwell and
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: their associates at the Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe County,
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: New Mexico. To further the NMDOJ's investigation, we respectfully submit
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: this TUI letter to request access to view and utilize
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: unredacted and unreleased records in the custody of United States
• 0:49
  Speaker 1: Department of Justice. On April 1, 2026, the MDOJ conferred
• 0:55
  Speaker 1: with Diego Pistana Associate Deputy Attorney General at USDOJ, who
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: affirmed the Department's commitment to assisting with the NMDOJ's ongoing
• 1:04
  Speaker 1: investigation and requested that the NMDOJ submit a TUI letter
• 1:08
  Speaker 1: through standard channels. Thorough investigations and meaningful accountability depend on
• 1:13
  Speaker 1: strong collaboration among state and federal partners, including appropriate information
• 1:18
  Speaker 1: sharing and effective coordination. We appreciate Mr. Pastana's support for
• 1:23
  Speaker 1: this approach and and for the NMDOJ's ongoing work on
• 1:26
  Speaker 1: behalf of crime victims. Thus, we submit this TUI letter,
• 1:30
  Speaker 1: pursuant to 28 CFR section 16.21 through 16.29, 2026, to
• 1:37
  Speaker 1: request access to the documents collected, assembled, and prepared in
• 1:41
  Speaker 1: connection with investigations and prosecutions previously handled by the USDOJ. Specifically,
• 1:47
  Speaker 1: we seek the redacted material contained in the USDOJ's Epstein file,
• 1:52
  Speaker 1: compiled pursuant to section 2A1-9 of the Epstein Files Transparency Act,
• 1:58
  Speaker 1: Public Law 119-38, November 19, 2025, along with any relevant
• 2:04
  Speaker 1: non-privileged unreleased files. Access to these records is essential to
• 2:08
  Speaker 1: ensure the fair and effective administration of justice for the
• 2:11
  Speaker 1: numerous named and unnamed victims of Epstein and his associates.
• 2:16
  Speaker 1: As required by TUI regulation, the NMDOJ confirms that the
• 2:20
  Speaker 1: United States is not anticipated to be a party of
• 2:23
  Speaker 1: this matter. background on investigation into criminal activity at Zorro Ranch.
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: Jeffrey Epstein purchased Zorro Ranch in 1993 and multiple survivors
• 2:32
  Speaker 1: of detailed abuse set the property, with allegations dating back
• 2:36
  Speaker 1: to 1996 and spanning over two decades. The NMDOJ opened
• 2:41
  Speaker 1: an investigation into these allegations in 2019, but closed it
• 2:46
  Speaker 1: at the request of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the
• 2:48
  Speaker 1: Southern District of New York and forwarded its case file,
• 2:52
  Speaker 1: for use in prosecuting Epstein's co-conspirators. Federal charges brought against
• 2:56
  Speaker 1: Maxwell in 2020 culminated in her December 2021 federal conviction
• 3:01
  Speaker 1: following testimony from several victims, some of whom described abuse
• 3:06
  Speaker 1: at Zorro Ranch. Yet that conviction leaves unresolved critical questions
• 3:10
  Speaker 1: about events in New Mexico and whether state crimes were committed.
• 3:14
  Speaker 1: The NMDOJ opened its investigation in February 2026 following the
• 3:19
  Speaker 1: release of the redacted Epstein files by the USDOJ. For
• 3:23
  Speaker 1: the first time, those materials provided insight into the possible
• 3:27
  Speaker 1: scope of Epstein and his associates' activities at the ranch.
• 3:31
  Speaker 1: On March 9, 2026, the NMDOJ executed a search of
• 3:36
  Speaker 1: the property and has since begun contacting potential victims and
• 3:39
  Speaker 1: witnesses to develop first-hand accounts of events. The Necessity and
• 3:45
  Speaker 1: Relevance of Assessing Unredacted Unreleased Materials Access to complete unredacted
• 3:51
  Speaker 1: and unreleased versions of investigative records is essential to advancing
• 3:55
  Speaker 1: the NMDOJ's investigation. Drawing on claims raised in related litigation
• 4:00
  Speaker 1: and information discernible from the unredacted USDOJ files, the state
• 4:05
  Speaker 1: of New Mexico is investigating potential felony offenses, including but
• 4:09
  Speaker 1: not limited to homicide, kidnapping, criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual contact,
• 4:14
  Speaker 1: and human trafficking. One, securing the requested records is necessary
• 4:18
  Speaker 1: and relevant to corroborate victim testimony, construct an accurate timeline
• 4:22
  Speaker 1: of events, identify additional victims and witnesses, and enable the
• 4:27
  Speaker 1: identification and charging of potential offenders. Based on the NMDOJ's
• 4:32
  Speaker 1: cursory review of open-source redacted material, several records appear to
• 4:37
  Speaker 1: indicate activity in or tied to New Mexico that warrant
• 4:41
  Speaker 1: further investigation. Yet the present redactions impede meaningful follow-up. The
• 4:46
  Speaker 1: following is a non-exhaustive snapshot of documents that reflect matters
• 4:50
  Speaker 1: the NMDOJ aims to investigate further in its criminal inquiry. 1.
• 4:55
  Speaker 1: EFTA 00158500 2. EFTA 00158513 A February 2020 FBI interview
• 4:57
  Speaker 1: reflects that the victim was brought to New Mexico on
• 5:00
  Speaker 1: multiple occasions in the late 90s and early 2000s. as
• 5:12
  Speaker 1: part of a broader grooming relationship involving Jeffrey Epstein and
• 5:16
  Speaker 1: Ghislaine Maxwell and other unidentified individuals. Access to unredacted names
• 5:21
  Speaker 1: and details would allow NMDOJ investigators to identify potential witnesses,
• 5:27
  Speaker 1: verify travel movements, and conduct a more thorough examination of
• 5:31
  Speaker 1: the victim's experience in New Mexico. 2. EFTA 02-731082 2-0-2-3-1-1-6-7.
• 5:41
  Speaker 1: A December 2019 prosecution memorandum outlines at least four minors
• 5:47
  Speaker 1: and two adults that documented multiple instances of sexual assault
• 5:51
  Speaker 1: by Epstein, Maxwell, and others in New Mexico. The memo
• 5:55
  Speaker 1: references additional individuals whose identities remain redacted, limiting the NMDOJ's
• 6:01
  Speaker 1: ability to conduct follow-up interviews. 3-EFTA. 0-1-2- 45658 to EFTA 012-45661.
• 6:13
  Speaker 1: Interview notes from July 2019 reflect that a redacted victim
• 6:18
  Speaker 1: reported traveling to Zorro Ranch on at least five occasions,
• 6:21
  Speaker 1: including an incident involving forced, non-consensual intercourse by Epstein. The
• 6:26
  Speaker 1: victim also identified multiple individuals present at the ranch, the
• 6:30
  Speaker 1: names being fully redacted, whose identities and roles are material
• 6:34
  Speaker 1: to the NMDOJ's investigation. EFTA 06-99-047 to EFTA 016-99-160. 2006
• 6:47
  Speaker 1: FBI interview notes document a victim's redacted account of being
• 6:50
  Speaker 1: flown to Santa Fe, where Glenn Maxwell performed a non-consensual
• 6:54
  Speaker 1: massage before Epstein later sexually assaulted her. Additional information from
• 6:59
  Speaker 1: this witness could help identify other ranch personnel, clarify the
• 7:02
  Speaker 1: relationships among Epstein, Maxwell, and their associates, and generate further
• 7:07
  Speaker 1: leads corroborating evidence. EFTA 00173832 to EFTA 00173833 A redacted
• 7:17
  Speaker 1: interview summarizing the account of a professional massage therapist who
• 7:21
  Speaker 1: provided services to Epstein, Maxwell, and multiple young women over
• 7:25
  Speaker 1: a three-year period at Zorro Ranch. The witness describes how
• 7:28
  Speaker 1: the massages became sexual in nature and details Maxwell's role
• 7:32
  Speaker 1: in facilitating the conduct. An unredacted version would enable NMDOJ
• 7:37
  Speaker 1: to identify house managers, additional individuals who received massages, and
• 7:41
  Speaker 1: other women referenced within the document. 6. EFTA 00020495 to
• 7:47
  Speaker 1: EFTA 00020496 FBI intake report documenting a man's allegation that
• 7:56
  Speaker 1: he was raped at Zorro Ranch. Identifying this individual would
• 8:00
  Speaker 1: enable investigators to pursue further questioning. locate potential corroborating witnesses,
• 8:06
  Speaker 1: and assess credibility of the allegations. 7. EFTA 012-45688 to
• 8:12
  Speaker 1: EFTA 012-45693 A 2020 FBI interview summarizing a redacted victim's
• 8:20
  Speaker 1: account of events at Zorro Ranch in 2002, including interactions
• 8:24
  Speaker 1: with members of Epstein's inner circle. Further investigation by NMDOJ
• 8:29
  Speaker 1: could examine Maxwell and others' roles in Epstein's operations and
• 8:33
  Speaker 1: assess whether their involvement constituted co-conspiracy or accessory liability under
• 8:38
  Speaker 1: New Mexico law. 8. EFTA 00-090-595 to EFTA 000-90-597 An
• 8:47
  Speaker 1: FBI report outlines a redacted victim account of meeting Epstein
• 8:52
  Speaker 1: and Maxwell at age 15, flying with Epstein to New Mexico,
• 8:56
  Speaker 1: and spending several days at Zorro Ranch, where she describes
• 8:59
  Speaker 1: sexual conduct, involving Epstein and the presence of other young women.
• 9:03
  Speaker 1: Identifying this victim and other individuals present would allow NMDOJ
• 9:08
  Speaker 1: to interview them and evaluate potential criminal conduct. 9. EFTA
• 9:11
  Speaker 1: 012-50231 to EFTA 012-50232 An FBI complaint formed detailing a
• 9:14
  Speaker 1: November 2019 email received from an Albuquerque, New Mexico resident.
• 9:27
  Speaker 1: from an unidentified individual providing videos of sexual abuse by
• 9:31
  Speaker 1: Epstein and the location of two foreign girls purportedly buried
• 9:35
  Speaker 1: on the ranch. 10. Multiple emails, receipts, and other records
• 9:39
  Speaker 1: related to operation and staffing at Zorro Ranch are heavily redacted,
• 9:43
  Speaker 1: leaving dates, identities, and other key details obscured and hindering
• 9:47
  Speaker 1: a full understanding of potential criminal activity at the ranch.
• 9:51
  Speaker 1: The consideration set forth in 28 CFR, Section 16.26 support
• 9:57
  Speaker 1: the NMDOJ's access to and use of the complete unredacted
• 10:01
  Speaker 1: records because the state would be required to disclose such
• 10:05
  Speaker 1: material under the rules of criminal procedure in any resulting
• 10:08
  Speaker 1: prosecution and because the NMDOJ is not seeking information barred
• 10:12
  Speaker 1: by statute regulation or subpart B full access is both
• 10:16
  Speaker 1: appropriate and consistent with governing law The considerations in Subpart
• 10:21
  Speaker 1: C also support granting access to the requested material. The
• 10:25
  Speaker 1: offenses alleged to have occurred in New Mexico were extensive, severe,
• 10:29
  Speaker 1: and inflicted lasting harm on the survivors who spent time
• 10:32
  Speaker 1: at Zorro Ranch. Given the gravity of these violations, Epstein's
• 10:36
  Speaker 1: documented history of sexual exploitation, and the state's compelling interest
• 10:40
  Speaker 1: in pursuing accountability, the Administration of Justice strongly favors disclosure.
• 10:45
  Speaker 1: The NMDOJ seeks to minimize the burden on the USDOJ
• 10:49
  Speaker 1: The NMDOJ seeks to minimize any administrative or financial burden
• 10:54
  Speaker 1: on the USDOJ. To that end, rather than request that
• 10:57
  Speaker 1: the USDOJ undertake the resource-intensive task of identifying records relevant
• 11:03
  Speaker 1: to New Mexico's investigation, the NMDOJ is prepared to send
• 11:07
  Speaker 1: a team to Maine Justice to conduct the review. Our
• 11:11
  Speaker 1: legal team stands ready to examine the material in person
• 11:14
  Speaker 1: subject to reasonable security protocol and access conditions but the
• 11:18
  Speaker 1: USDOJ deems appropriate. The NMDOJ is committed to safeguarding the
• 11:22
  Speaker 1: confidentiality of these records. Use of records will be limited
• 11:26
  Speaker 1: to material bearing directly on potential criminal activity in New
• 11:30
  Speaker 1: Mexico and information reasonably calculated to lead to admissible evidence.
• 11:35
  Speaker 1: The NMDOJ appreciates the U.S. DOJ's stated commitment to assisting
• 11:40
  Speaker 1: the State of New Mexico in its efforts to pursue
• 11:42
  Speaker 1: justice for the survivors of Epstein's abuse. Your willingness to
• 11:46
  Speaker 1: engage collaboratively and support this work underscores the shared obligation
• 11:51
  Speaker 1: of our institutions to protect victims, uphold the rule of law,
• 11:54
  Speaker 1: and ensure accountability. We look forward to continuing our partnership.
• 11:59
  Speaker 1: We respectfully request that your office respond by May 11,
• 12:03
  Speaker 1: 2026 so that logistical arrangements can be timely finalized. We're
• 12:07
  Speaker 1: prepared to move forward at your earliest convenience. This document
• 12:11
  Speaker 1: was dated August 5, 2026 and it was signed by
• 12:16
  Speaker 1: Sean P. Sullivan, Special Counsel, New Mexico. All the information
• 12:21
  Speaker 1: that goes with this episode can be found in the
• 12:23
  Speaker 1: description box.