New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has accused the Trump administration of obstructing his office's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, stating that President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche have hindered efforts to examine the accused pedophile's crimes.
Torrez made the claims during an interview with Jakson for "TMZ In The Know," according to TMZ.com, which published the remarks on October 21, 2026. The attorney general said his office submitted a Touhy request earlier this year seeking unredacted and unrestricted access to complete Epstein files, but was "stonewalled."
According to Torrez, there has been "no willingness" from Trump and his administration to provide the requested information, despite the attorney general filing a lawsuit in Washington, D.C., to obtain access to the files. Torrez told TMZ that New Mexico will have to go to court and is taking every possible step to uncover the truth.
The disclosure comes as Torrez pursues a separate legal action filed Wednesday accusing Epstein's former attorney Darren Indyke and former accountant Richard Kahn of covering up crimes that allegedly occurred at Epstein's Zorro Ranch estate in New Mexico. The lawsuit, first reported by TMZ, represents an escalation of the state's efforts to hold accountable those connected to Epstein's network.
The Zorro Ranch, located in New Mexico, has been a focal point of the state's investigation into Epstein's activities. Torrez's remarks suggest that the state's ability to fully investigate the property and related matters may depend on access to federal files that his office says have been withheld.
The Touhy request referenced by Torrez is a formal procedure through which state and local authorities seek federal records. A denial or lack of response typically forces requesting parties to pursue legal action, which Torrez indicated is now the path forward.
The allegations raise questions about federal cooperation with state-level investigations into Epstein, whose case has drawn sustained public scrutiny. For New Mexico, the dispute underscores the stakes of accessing information that Torrez argues is essential to pursuing justice for alleged crimes committed within the state's borders.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
