The so-called Zorro Ranch was the site of numerous alleged abuses, but was not subject to intense scrutiny
New Mexico authorities launched a search of a ranch previously owned by Jeffrey Epstein, state officials announced on Monday.
The late convicted sex offender and financier’s so-called Zorro Ranch was the site of numerous alleged abuses, according to civil and criminal proceedings. But the location was not subject to the same scrutiny as other Epstein properties, and a Guardian investigation in February revealed that federal authorities apparently never searched the New Mexico ranch.
The New Mexico department of justice said Monday it had “initiated a search” of the Zorro Ranch, with state police and the Sandoval county sheriff’s office assisting. The search was carried out at the direction of New Mexico attorney general, Raúl Torrez.
There has been renewed attention on Zorro Ranch since the US Department of Justice’s recent disclosure of roughly 3m investigative documents related to Epstein. The search comes several weeks after Torrez announced the state would reopen its 2019 investigation into claims of illegal activity at Epstein’s ranch. The state said it had put that case on hold at the request of federal prosecutors in New York, who were carrying out the second investigation into Epstein’s sex-trafficking scheme, which led to his arrest.
