Blog Details

New Mexico officers maintain re-opened an feeble prison investigation and formed a legislative committee to scrutinize into allegations of abuse at the 10,000-acre ranch owned by Jeffrey Epstein.

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

As properly as to his island and his Ny mansion, the leisurely Jeffrey Epstein owned a sprawling ranch in New Mexico. For many years, there were questions about whether there were crimes dedicated there. After calls from the public, New Mexico officers maintain opened up two recent investigations. Daniel Montano of member station KUNM in Albuquerque reports.

DANIEL MONTANO, BYLINE: South of Santa Fe sits about 10,000 acres of some distance flung excessive desert Epstein known as the Zorro Ranch. It had a helipad, airstrip and hangar to switch with a mansion. Or no longer it is where some of Epstein’s victims impart they were assaulted. For years, there were suspicions – properly-known by officers and in narrate radio chatter – of crimes at the ranch, even claims our bodies can be buried on the grounds. Connections were alleged to loads of prominent figures.

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Singing) You were so young that you might perhaps also maintain…

MONTANO: In March on World Females’s Day in downtown Albuquerque, a complete bunch of protesters caravaned out to the ranch, which was sold just a few years within the past, to demand solutions and justice. One in every of the demonstrators was Sky Roberts, brother of Virginia Giuffre. Giuffre, sooner than taking her salvage lifestyles, alleged years of abuse at the ranch.

SKY ROBERTS: This is what we maintain got to scrutinize more of, roar by roar. I judge New Mexico is taking the first initiative. I judge the people of New Mexico are anxious solutions. They’re anxious justice that begins right here. And there might perhaps be so grand more that we are able to continue to wrestle for.

MONTANO: New Mexico launched two investigations in mid-February. One, unanimously created by the roar Residence of Representatives, is known as the Truth Commission, will head a civil investigation. Or no longer it is funded by $2 million from settlements related to Epstein’s bank accounts. The prison skilled customary’s office, all the diagram throughout the equal time, announced it was reopening an feeble prison investigation into allegations of illegal project at the ranch, and it conducted a search of the property with search and rescue canines. Democratic Instruct Book and Truth Commission Chair Andrea Romero says the cost will heart of attention on systemic points that can also fair want attracted Epstein to the roar or if any individual conducted a role in sweeping things below the rug.

ANDREA ROMERO: We plot no longer know. I imply, that’s correct it. If that wasn’t the case, then what was the case? What took region right here? We know that there are survivors that were on the memoir reporting abuse. Why did their case below no conditions derive it to the roar nor federal executive to raise that to legend in some capability, form or invent?

MONTANO: Romero says the cost will subpoena witnesses and compel testimony if important. Or no longer it is already obtained a flood of pointers, and she says it has a list of names of feeble ranch workers, ability co-conspirators and the people of Stanley, the closest metropolis to the ranch.

ROMERO: We’re a residing neighborhood of people that knew people that labored there, that noticed this man parading round metropolis where he did yoga, where he grocery shopped. , right here’s a neighborhood that knew about these folks residing right here.

MONTANO: Republican Instruct Book Andrea Reeb is furthermore a member of the cost. She says the political will to use through is bipartisan.

ANDREA REEB: I judge every person needs to know what took region. And every person, needless to claim, has sympathy for the survivors and the victims that, you appreciate, are no longer round anymore. However every person correct needs to know the fact.

MONTANO: At some stage within the rally support in March at Zorro Ranch, Roberts acknowledged it was time for the roar to use the fact wherever it leads.

ROBERTS: Within the support of these gates, survivors persisted abuse and struggling that can no longer be absolutely place into words. And the people accountable believed they were untouchable, safe by wealth, shielded by energy and convinced the regulation would below no conditions reach them. Effectively, we’re right here to train that cash and energy plot no longer aquire you a determined region of prison pointers.

(CHEERING)

MONTANO: Contacted again fair these days, Roberts acknowledged he’s heartened by the roar’s work to this point, and that with ample effort, the investigations will display what he known as the tragedies suffered and procure justice for survivors. The associated price is scheduled to free up its initial document on July 31. For NPR News, I’m Daniel Montano in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

(SOUNDBITE OF BADBADNOTGOOD & GHOSTFACE KILLAH SONG, “TONE’S RAP”)

Copyright © 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. Focus on with our web pages terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for added data.

Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts can also fair range. Transcript textual relate can also fair be revised to splendid errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org can also fair be edited after its customary broadcast or newsletter. The authoritative memoir of NPR’s programming is the audio memoir.