<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>State legislators in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="_blank" title="New Mexico"><span>New Mexico</span></a><span> launched an investigation today into past activity at a secluded desert ranch where financier and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/jeffrey-epstein" rel="" target="_blank" title="sex offender Jeffrey Epstein"><span>sex offender Jeffrey Epstein</span></a><span> once entertained guests, and whether local authorities looked the other way.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A bipartisan, four-member panel of state House representatives are investigating allegations that the ranch may have facilitated sexual abuse and sex trafficking.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>New Mexico lawmakers also say they want to know why Epstein was not registered as a sex offender after pleading guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl and whether there was corruption among public officials.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/essex-police-reviewing-stansted-private-flight-data-linked-to-jeffrey-epstein/028aa7bf-c2d5-43db-845b-0d20487e48a5" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>UK police reviewing private flight data linked to Jeffrey Epstein</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Democratic state Representative Marianna Anaya of Albuquerque, a member of the truth commission, urged people to come forward with information about any abuse at the ranch linked to Epstein and other people who made it possible, at a news conference today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>“That perpetrator could not act alone. They could not run a sex ring alone, they could not commit these types of financial crimes alone. So we know as a commission that enablers must also be held accountable, including the state itself, if needed,” said Anaya.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If you do want to share, we’ll be here and we will be operating with confidentiality.”</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/new-mexico-legislators-launch-investigation-into-jeffrey-epsteins-secluded-ranch/255ea015-be22-4ff6-9731-9834f5df3e50" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/nancy-guthrie-donald-trump-threatens-kidnappers-death-penalty/97a33379-2e1a-4541-bfc3-e452c7bc608d" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Trump will seek death penalty for Nancy Guthrie's kidnappers</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Revelations of ties to Epstein have led to the departure or ousting of multiple high-profile people in recent days.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Epstein purchased the sprawling Zorro Ranch in New Mexico in 1993 from former Democratic Governor Bruce King and built a 2480-square-metre hilltop mansion with a private runway.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The property was sold by Epstein’s estate in 2023 — with proceeds going to creditors — to the family of Don Huffines, a Republican candidate in Texas for statewide election to the office of comptroller.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jeffrey-epstein-files-hillary-clinton-accuses-donald-trump-administration-of-coverup-over-its-handling-of-documents/8d2ee7d6-1521-48c1-b200-fc59c84cc89c" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Hillary Clinton accuses Trump administration of Epstein files 'cover-up'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a social media post on X, Huffines said the property has been renamed San Rafael Ranch after a saint associated with healing and that his family plans to operate a Christian retreat there.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Huffines said any request by law enforcement for access would be met with immediate and full cooperation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges that he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of underage girls.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/australian-citizens-with-alleged-is-ties-depart-syrias-roj-camp-for-repatriation/c0a6d761-598e-4a1a-8cbd-9cb6891cd6e0" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'They made a choice': Government won't help Australians with alleged IS ties</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Truth commission chairwoman and state Representative Andrea Romero of Santa Fe has said that several survivors of Epstein’s abuse have signalled that sex trafficking activity extended to the ranch, which is about 56 kilometres south of Santa Fe.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>“We’ve heard years of allegations and rumours about Epstein’s activities here. But unfortunately, federal investigations have failed to put together an official record,” Romero said today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>“This truth commission will finally fill in the gaps of what we need to know.”</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Commission members also include retired FBI agent and Republican state Representative William Hall of Aztec and former district attorney and Representative Andrea Reeb of Clovis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/opposition-leader-angus-taylor-unveils-new-shadow-ministry/93562d0e-c423-4ecf-b732-b509582c9719" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Major returns and promotions as new opposition leader unveils shadow ministry</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>State House legislators who were present voted unanimously on Monday to create the commission with subpoena power and a budget of over $2 million ($AUD2.8 million)</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While Epstein never faced charges in New Mexico, the state attorney general’s office in 2019 confirmed that it was investigating and had interviewed possible victims who visited the ranch.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In 2023, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez ordered an investigation into financial businesses utilised by Epstein and their legal obligations, resulting in agreements with two banks that dedicate $23.9 million to the prevention of human trafficking, according to a spokesperson for Torrez's office.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>