The United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) has refused New Mexico’s request for unredacted files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Justice Department stated on social media on Wednesday, July 15th, 2026, that releasing the records would violate existing federal law and court orders. “We will continue to follow federal law and the court orders that are in place,” the department said. “To capitulate to their demands would be to break federal law.”

New Mexico has accused the Justice Department of impeding its criminal investigation into alleged abuse at Epstein’s ranch, emphasizing that the withheld records are critical to the case. The state reopened its investigation in February 2026 after the second Trump administration released millions of records under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

The Epstein controversy has been a significant issue for the Trump administration since the Republican leader began his second term in 2025. Previously, in 2019 during Trump’s first administration, federal prosecutors had urged New Mexico to suspend its investigation into Epstein’s activities to allow the federal case to proceed.

Additionally, Bill Gates testified in a closed-door US House meeting regarding Epstein ties, and Todd Blanche’s loyalty to Trump was questioned in a Senate confirmation hearing.

Sources