its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in July 2019.
According to a redacted September 8, 2019, email [cited in search results], her office informed New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas that they would take primary jurisdiction over federal sex trafficking matters related to Epstein. In exchange, New Mexico was asked to cease its investigation into sex trafficking + instead share all gathered evidence with the US Attorney’s Office. The email stated that New Mexico was free to pursue other investigations unrelated to sex trafficking, w/ the promise that any information gathered by the federal case would be shared afterward.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/new_mexico/article_d08ca948-d4d8-4935-8c30-c516bfa82483.html
Former New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas confirmed that his office was asked to pause the state probe by Comey’s office, which was leading a federal multi-jurisdictional prosecution at the time. The New Mexico investigation was closed at the federal request.
https://sourcenm.com/2026/02/17/new-mexicos-jeffrey-epstein-truth-commission-gets-off-the-ground/
Balderas emphasized that his office did not close the matter, instead forwarded all gathered evidence, police reports + witness interviews to federal authorities + continued to offer resources for prosecution. Balderas also requested that federal asset forfeiture tools be used to seize the ranch + redirect proceeds to victims.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/17/epstein-zorro-ranch-abuse-new-mexico
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