NEWS
Heinrich pushes DNI nominee to hand over unredacted Epstein files to state investigators
Trump's pick as intelligence director says federal agency willing to work with state prosecutors
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SANTA FE 鈥� New Mexico鈥檚 push to obtain unredacted records related to Jeffrey Epstein took center stage on Capital Hill on Wednesday.
During a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., pushed director of national intelligence nominee Jay Clayton to commit to providing information requested by New Mexico Attorney General Ra煤l Torrez.
Torrez, who announced in February the state was reviving its investigation into possible crimes that occurred at Epstein鈥檚 former Zorro Ranch near Santa Fe, recently accused the U.S. Department of Justice of ignoring repeated requests for investigative materials and other records.
In response to Heinrich鈥檚 questions, Clayton said during Wednesday鈥檚 hearing that his office would seek to accommodate the requests from New Mexico鈥檚 top prosecutor.
But he also said some of the requested records are subject to a protective order by the courts, potentially complicating their release.
鈥淢y folks, I think as we speak, are seeking dialog with the attorney general to see if we can reach an accommodation that is consistent with those protective orders,鈥� Clayton said.
In response, Heinrich encouraged a spirit of collaboration between federal and state investigators.
鈥淚 think it is quite clear that it is likely that there are survivors, witnesses and co-conspirators whose names have been redacted that are necessary for him to effectively complete that investigation,鈥� Heinrich said, referring to Torrez.
However, Heinrich also urged prudence, pointing out the U.S. Department of Justice released some Epstein in January. He pushed Clayton to take responsibility for the incident.
President Donald Trump picked Clayton for the Cabinet-level post after former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard . While the U.S. Senate has not voted on his nomination, such a vote could take place in the coming weeks.
Since late 2024, Clayton has served as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, an office that has played a significant role in Epstein investigations past and current.
New Mexico officials previously investigated Epstein鈥檚 actions, though no criminal charges were filed in the state. Former Attorney General Hector Balderas said federal prosecutors asked the state in 2019 to halt its investigation, promising to share evidence that was ultimately never provided.
After Torrez announced that his office was reopening the criminal investigation this year, state and local investigators searched the 7,500-acre ranch in March. No results from the search have been publicly disclosed.
Lauren Rodriguez, the attorney general鈥檚 chief of staff, said the New Mexico Department of Justice expects Clayton鈥檚 stated willingness to work with state prosecutors to be honored.
But she added that such verbal assurances are not new, saying similar promises have been made over the last three months with no records ultimately being shared.
鈥淲ords spoken to a Senate committee mean nothing if they don't show up in writing to this office,鈥� Rodriguez said in a Wednesday statement. She also reiterated a deadline of July 31 before the state agency takes additional legal action.
A bipartisan bill pending in Congress would give attorneys general and survivors the right to sue the U.S. Department of Justice for withholding or redacting certain records. One of the bill鈥檚 sponsors is U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fern谩ndez, D-N.M.
Court documents and civil cases have accused Epstein of sexually assaulting teenage girls and women at the Zorro Ranch, which was one of several properties owned by Epstein. The financier and convicted sex offender also reportedly had homes in New York, Florida, Paris and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
One plaintiff described the property in 2019 as being 鈥渓ike a park鈥� where teenage girls were encouraged to ride horses and ATVs, and to use the pool and hot tub.
Epstein died in August 2019 in a New York City jail while he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in New York and Florida. Medical investigators determined at the time that he died by suicide.
Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at @DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.
