By Micah Jonah
February 17, 2026
Lawmakers in New Mexico have approved the state’s first full investigation into Zorro Ranch, the 7,600-acre property once owned by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, where he is alleged to have trafficked and sexually abused girls and women.
The legislation, passed unanimously in the state House of Representatives, establishes a bipartisan “truth commission” of four members tasked with interviewing victims, local residents, and others connected to the property. The commission is expected to provide an initial update by July and a comprehensive report by the end of 2026.
Epstein purchased the ranch from former Governor Bruce King in 1993. Victims and civil lawsuits have identified the site as a location where abuse occurred as early as 1996, including allegations involving prominent survivor Virginia Giuffre and, in her claims, British royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
State Representative, Melanie Stansbury emphasized that previous federal and state investigations were incomplete and that the new commission aims to hold those complicit accountable while ensuring such abuses cannot happen again.
The committee will have subpoena power and will work alongside New Mexico’s Attorney General, who has assigned a special agent to examine any allegations arising from the investigation. The property was sold in 2023 to the family of former Texas Senator, Don Huffines, who has pledged full cooperation with the inquiry.
Legal advocates highlight that federal authorities never fully examined the ranch, allowing Epstein to operate without accountability. This investigation seeks to close that gap and provide survivors with a platform to share their experiences.
