// Reuters
According to the new law, a bipartisan committee of four lawmakers will be established to investigate and gather testimony from alleged victims of violence and local residents. Zorro Ranch is located about 50 kilometers from the state capital, Santa Fe. The commission plans to identify all guests of the ranch and officials who may have known about possible crimes or been involved in them.
Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019 in a New York jail, allegedly committed suicide while under investigation for federal charges of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
As the agency points out, the ranch in New Mexico had previously not attracted the attention of federal investigations focused on Epstein's private island in the Caribbean and his townhouse in New York. Attorney Sigrid McCauley, representing the interests of hundreds of victims, claims that many of the affected individuals experienced violence specifically in New Mexico, and local authorities may have been aware of what was happening.
Andrea Romero, a Democratic state legislator and co-author of the initiative, noted that Epstein "essentially operated in this state without restrictions or accountability." She added that the testimonies collected by the committee could play an important role in future legal proceedings.
Previously, the U.S. Department of Justice released millions of documents related to Epstein, shedding new light on the events that took place at the ranch. The bill was unanimously approved by the New Mexico House of Representatives and, according to Reuters, may pose risks for politicians and high-ranking officials connected to Epstein and his ranch.
The committee's work will begin on Tuesday, with preliminary results to be presented in July, and a final report expected by the end of the year. Epstein is accused of sexually assaulting minors at Zorro Ranch; however, formal charges in these cases have not been filed against him.
