Two of New Mexico U.S. Representatives in Congress have joined a growing list of lawmakers. They are calling out the Trump administration over the handling of the Epstein files. Epstein had connections to New Mexico as one of his properties, the Zorro Ranch was listed in 2021 for $27.5 million. That price was later dropped to $18 million and sold. The new owner is San Rafael Ranch LLC. It is registered with the secretary of state’s office.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez joined a growing, bipartisan call for U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all of the files related to Jeffrey Epstein. This follows the Justice Department’s release of a memo last week. It stated that there wouldn’t be any more disclosures in the Epstein case. The memo also clarified that Epstein didn’t keep a “client list” when he trafficked underage girls. His partner in the crimes, Ghislaine Maxwell, is serving a 20 year prison sentence. She was involved in securing young girls for his clients.

According to the US Attorney’s office at the time of her conviction, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Today’s sentence holds Ghislaine Maxwell accountable for perpetrating heinous crimes against children.  This sentence sends a strong message that no one is above the law and it is never too late for justice.  We again express our gratitude to Epstein and Maxwell’s victims for their courage in coming forward, in testifying at trial, and in sharing their stories as part of today’s sentencing.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment, court documents, and evidence presented at trial:

From at least 1994, up to and including in or about 2004, GHISLAINE MAXWELL assisted, facilitated, and participated in Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of minor girls by, among other things, helping Epstein to recruit, groom, and ultimately abuse victims known to MAXWELL and Epstein to be under the age of 18.  The victims were as young as 14 years old when they were groomed and abused by MAXWELL and Epstein, both of whom knew that their victims were in fact minors.  As a part and in furtherance of their scheme to abuse minor victims, MAXWELL and Epstein enticed and caused minor victims to travel to Epstein’s residences in different states, which MAXWELL knew and intended would result in their grooming for and subjection to sexual abuse.

MAXWELL enticed and groomed minor girls to be abused in multiple ways.  For example, MAXWELL attempted to befriend certain victims by asking them about their lives, their schools, and their families, and taking them to the movies or on shopping trips.  MAXWELL also acclimated victims to Epstein’s conduct simply by being present for victim interactions with Epstein, which put victims at ease by providing the assurance and comfort of an adult woman who seemingly approved of Epstein’s behavior.  Additionally, Epstein offered to help some victims by paying for travel and/or educational opportunities, and MAXWELL encouraged certain victims to accept Epstein’s assistance.  As a result, victims were made to feel indebted and believed that MAXWELL and Epstein were trying to help them.  MAXWELL also normalized and facilitated sexual abuse for a victim by discussing sexual topics, undressing in front of the victim, being present when the victim was undressed, and encouraging the victim to massage Epstein.

As MAXWELL and Epstein intended, these grooming behaviors left minor victims vulnerable and susceptible to sexual abuse by Epstein.  MAXWELL was then present for certain sexual encounters between minor victims and Epstein, such as interactions where a minor victim was undressed, and ultimately was present for sex acts perpetrated by Epstein on minor victims.  That abuse included sexualized massages during which a minor victim was fully or partially nude, as well as group sexualized massages of Epstein involving a minor victim where MAXWELL was present.  In some instances, MAXWELL participated in the sexual abuse of minor victims. 

Ultimately minor victims were subjected to sexual abuse that included, among other things, the touching of a victim’s breasts or genitals, placing a sex toy such as a vibrator on a victim’s genitals, directing a victim to touch Epstein while he masturbated, and directing a victim to touch Epstein’s genitals.  MAXWELL and Epstein’s victims were groomed or abused at Epstein’s residences in New York, Florida, and New Mexico, as well as MAXWELL’s residence in London, England.

In the earlier phase of the conspiracy, from at least approximately 1994 through approximately 2001, MAXWELL and Epstein identified vulnerable girls, typically from single-mother households and difficult financial circumstances.  This earlier phase required the defendant and Epstein to identify one girl at a time to target for grooming and abuse.  In the later phase, from approximately 2001 until at least approximately 2004, MAXWELL and Epstein enticed and recruited, and caused to be enticed and recruited, minor girls to visit Epstein’s Palm Beach Residence to engage in sex acts with Epstein, after which Epstein, MAXWELL, or another employee of Epstein’s would give the victims hundreds of dollars in cash. MAXWELL and Epstein encouraged one or more of those victims to travel with Epstein with the intention that the victim engage in sex acts with Epstein.  Moreover, and in order to maintain and increase his supply of victims, MAXWELL and Epstein also paid certain victims to recruit additional girls to be similarly abused by Epstein.  In this way, MAXWELL and Epstein created a network of underage victims for Epstein to sexually exploit.

Closer to home in New Mexico Rep. Leger Fernandez said she encouraged her Republican colleagues to vote for the release of all information. This includes the client list around the incident with Maxwell and Epstein.

“It’s going to be a simple vote – will you require the release? Is there anything that needs to be hidden? If there isn’t, then just release the files,” she said. The vote didn’t pass.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury also joined Leger Fernandez’s call for release of all the documents.

The Trump administration and Bondi face intense pressure. They must open the books and release all details around the cases. Yet on July 16th, 2025, a cover-up seems to be in the works. Maurene Comey handled the cases against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. She was fired from her position in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The reasons for her dismissal are unclear.

Comey prosecuted Sean “Diddy” Combs during his sex trafficking trial this year. She also played a role in the investigation of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was a convicted sex offender. Additionally, she was involved in the prosecution and conviction of his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. As the pressure mounts for release of documents the timing of the termination of the prosecuting attorney could not be any worse for the adminstration and adds to the feeling of a coverup and a conspiracy.