Tuesday, February 17, 2026-Lawmakers in New Mexico have unanimously approved legislation to launch the first full investigation into activities at the late financier Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous Zorro Ranch, a sprawling property long tied to allegations of sex trafficking and abuse. The bipartisan probe, described as a truth commission, was green-lit by the state’s House of Representatives and aims to uncover what happened on the 7,600-acre estate that federal and local authorities never fully investigated before Epstein’s death in 2019.
The commission will comprise four lawmakers from both major political parties and has subpoena power to compel testimony, public records, and survivor accounts about alleged crimes at the ranch. Legislators say the investigation will seek testimony from survivors, local residents, and witnesses, and will work to identify guests, officials, or others who may have been aware of — or involved in — criminal acts there. It also aims to determine whether state institutions failed to act and what legal safeguards are needed to prevent such abuses in the future.
With a budget of roughly $2.5 million and a timeline extending through the end of the year, the commission is expected to begin work immediately, with interim findings due in July and a final report by year-end. Supporters of the measure say it fills a long-standing gap in accountability for Epstein’s operations in New Mexico and provides a structured effort to document survivors’ stories and hold responsible parties to account.
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