Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez is going after the US Justice Department, claiming they’re withholding access to unredacted files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Torrez says this lack of cooperation is preventing the state from bringing justice to survivors. I mean, you can’t blame the guy for being frustrated – it’s been over 130 days since the initial request, and still, no substantive response from the USDOJ.
Now, I’m not saying the US Justice Department is being entirely unreasonable, but it does seem like they’re dragging their feet on this one. Torrez wrote a scathing letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, stating that every day the USDOJ withholds these records, the foundation for a New Mexico prosecution erodes. Witnesses relocate, memories fade, and physical evidence degrades – it’s like they’re trying to make it impossible to build a case.
Torrez’s letter marks the latest criticism of the US Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein case. I mean, it’s not like they’ve had a great track record on this one so far. Congress forced the department to release files related to the sex trafficker with a bipartisan bill late last year, and now they’re dealing with the fallout. New Mexico is investigating allegations of illegal activity surrounding Epstein’s property near Santa Fe, known as Zorro Ranch. Some of Epstein’s survivors, including Chauntae Davies and the late Virginia Giuffre, have said the ranch was one of the places where they were sexually assaulted.
A Justice Department spokesperson told CNN that the agency “substantively responded last month to requests from the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office.” However, Torrez claims that despite verbal assurances of cooperation, access to the requested records has not been granted. It’s a classic case of “he said, she said,” but you have to wonder what’s really going on behind the scenes.
The New Mexico criminal probe was reopened in February after the US DOJ’s release of millions of files related to Epstein. The state has also set up a special legislative panel, “The New Mexico Survivor’s Truth Commission,” which is investigating Zorro Ranch. Last month, the committee subpoenaed multiple banks, several US Attorneys offices, as well as the offices of Torrez and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, for information. It’s clear that New Mexico is taking this investigation seriously, but it’s hard to say whether they’ll actually get to the bottom of things.
In conclusion, it’s a bit of a mess, folks. The US Justice Department is being accused of withholding information, and New Mexico is trying to get to the truth about Epstein’s activities at Zorro Ranch. I’m not holding my breath for a resolution anytime soon, but I do hope that somehow, someway, justice will be served for the survivors. And who knows, maybe one day we’ll get to the bottom of this whole Epstein saga – but until then, I’ll just be over here, sipping my coffee and shaking my head.
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
