New Mexico Probes Jeffrey Epstein’s Political Ties After Ranch Search

Law enforcement officials conducted their first search of Jeffrey Epstein's New Mexico ranch while a state commission investigates his connections to powerful Democratic politicians. The probe examines how Epstein maintained influence through campaign donations even after becoming a registered sex offender.

STANLEY, New Mexico – Law enforcement officials have conducted their first search of Jeffrey Epstein’s New Mexico ranch, seeking evidence of potential abuse at the Old West-style property while investigators examine the convicted sex offender’s connections to influential state politicians who continued accepting his campaign contributions after his criminal conviction.

A groundbreaking New Mexico state “truth commission” – the nation’s first of its kind – is investigating Epstein’s relationships with Democratic Party leaders, including two former governors and a state attorney general, along with institutional failures that may have enabled abuse at the ranch.

According to a 2020 letter from New Mexico’s Attorney General’s office and recently released Department of Justice documents, Zorro Ranch served as a central location in Epstein’s alleged child sex trafficking network that operated between the U.S. Virgin Islands, New York and Florida. Epstein typically spent approximately two months annually at the property.

Despite spending relatively modest amounts, Epstein established himself as a significant funding source in Democratic-controlled New Mexico. Campaign finance records show he contributed slightly more than $160,000 across five races from 2002 to 2014, frequently becoming the largest outside donor to campaigns, including after his 2008 sex offender conviction.

Reuters found no evidence that Epstein received anything in exchange for his political donations.

While Epstein’s connections to late former Governor Bill Richardson have been widely documented, the state’s former top law enforcement official, Gary King, also maintained contact with Epstein following his felony sex crime conviction, including a 2010 meeting. Unlike most U.S. politicians who severed ties with Epstein after his Florida conviction, some New Mexico officials continued their relationships.

“Once you know what’s happened, to continue to take campaign contributions is reprehensible,” stated U.S. Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez during a March 8 Zorro Ranch protest, commenting on the relationships between Epstein and Richardson and King.

King’s campaign eventually returned a donation in 2014.

Leger Fernandez, who represents the high plains region 30 miles south of Santa Fe, is among those questioning why federal, state and local law enforcement never investigated sexual abuse complaints at the ranch and why federal authorities instructed state investigators to abandon a child trafficking investigation in 2019, yet never searched or seized the ranch before its 2023 sale.

King, now 71, stated he never visited Epstein’s ranch and never solicited campaign donations from the late financier after his Florida conviction.

“I personally told Mr. Epstein that the campaign would NOT accept contributions from him as a result of his admitted criminal activities,” King, who served as New Mexico’s attorney general from 2007 to 2015, said in a statement responding to Reuters questions about campaign solicitation letters sent to Epstein found in DOJ files. King said he was unaware the letters were sent to Epstein and they appeared to be standard mailings to previous donors.

In 1993, Epstein purchased 7,500 acres from three-time New Mexico Governor Bruce King and other members of his influential political family, according to county records. Gary King, Bruce King’s son, was among the parties involved in the sale. The younger King told Reuters that Epstein paid approximately $3.75 million for the land – fair market value at the time based on New Mexico State University research. Bruce King passed away in 2009.

Epstein developed what became locally known as “The Victoria’s Secret Ranch” due to rumors about lingerie models visiting the property, according to three local residents who spoke to Reuters.

As a skilled networker, Epstein brought scientists, politicians, billionaires and Hollywood celebrities to the ranch, where some made comments about “the girls,” according to emails in the Epstein files.

In 2006, Epstein contributed $15,000 to Gary King’s campaign. King told Reuters he didn’t return that money because he wasn’t aware of any wrongdoing reports against Epstein in 2006.

King recalled meeting Epstein only once, in 2010 at Santa Fe’s Jinja restaurant where they drank tea and Epstein offered condolences following King’s father’s death. A 2009 email to Epstein indicated all Zorro Ranch staff would attend Bruce King’s funeral service. King, who has chemistry training, said their meeting included brief discussion of Epstein’s interactions with the Santa Fe Institute, an influential scientific foundation.

When King ran for governor in 2014, Epstein donated $35,600 to the campaign, representing the largest outside contribution, records indicate. King returned the 2014 funds to Epstein companies three days after press reports on September 9 of that year, records show. Around the same time, Epstein arranged a September 8 jet charter for King to attend a Washington campaign breakfast, according to emails in the DOJ’s Epstein files. King’s campaign paid for the flight, state records confirm.

“If I had known of Mr. Epstein’s involvement at the time, I would have asked my staff to use another charter company to conduct the flight,” said King, who is retired from politics and now serves as president of the New Mexico Children’s Foundation charity.

As attorney general, King said he operated a comprehensive outreach program to combat crimes against children and human trafficking, and received no information about alleged crimes by Epstein. The New Mexico Department of Justice declined to comment.

Documents in the Epstein files reveal FBI agents visited the New Mexico ranch in February 2007, when King led New Mexico law enforcement, and questioned manager Brice Gordon about “masseuses” Epstein flew in or hired locally. Reuters was unable to contact Gordon. King said the U.S. Justice Department never informed his office of any investigation involving Epstein or his associates.

Reuters found no evidence King had knowledge of a federal probe into Epstein at that time.

Santa Fe Police Deputy Chief Ben Valdez stated in a statement his department had no record of any report concerning Epstein. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, which has jurisdiction over the ranch, said it was reviewing any allegations it may have received regarding Epstein. New Mexico State Police did not respond to a request for comment.

New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez reopened the state’s Epstein investigation in February.

The U.S. Department of Justice and FBI declined to comment.