Zorro Ranch Under the Microscope: New Mexico Launches Epstein Truth Commission (2/18/26)

A bipartisan truth-finding commission has been officially created by the New Mexico House of Representatives to investigate what happened at Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch near Santa Fe and the state’s connections to his activities. The resolution creating the four-member panel passed unanimously 62-0 and appoints two Democrats and two Republicans, including Rep. Andrea Romero, who sponsored the measure, and members with legal and investigative backgrounds. The commission is scheduled to hold its first meeting this week, will allow public testimony, has subpoena power to compel witnesses to testify, and is expected to publicly post information it gathers. Though it cannot directly launch criminal investigations, it can coordinate with law enforcement and will issue a report by the end of 2026 outlining its findings and recommendations.Lawmakers say the commission aims to explore gaps in past enforcement and understanding of allegations of sexual abuse and human trafficking tied to Epstein’s long tenure in New Mexico, where civil suits have accused him of abusing women and girls at the ranch. The initiative comes amid ongoing scrutiny following the release of federal files that mention New Mexico figures and activities, and officials have pointed to the need to ensure such crimes are fully documented and that “gaps in the law and enforcement” are addressed. Past state efforts never resulted in criminal charges, and the panel’s work could renew focus on what state officials knew and how these events unfolded.to contact me:[email protected]:Truth-finding commission focused on Epstein's activities in New Mexico set to ramp up quickly