New Mexico's attorney general has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice and Attorney General Todd Blanche, accusing federal officials of actively blocking the state's independent investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The complaint, filed in federal court, alleges that the DOJ refused to cooperate with state investigators and withheld records relevant to the probe.

The lawsuit represents one of the most direct confrontations between a state government and the federal DOJ over the handling of Epstein-related investigations. New Mexico has long held a particular interest in the case because Epstein owned a large ranch in the state, known as Zorro Ranch, where alleged abuse is said to have taken place.

According to the complaint, state investigators were met with obstruction when they sought access to federal evidence and cooperation from DOJ officials. The suit names Blanche personally alongside the department, an unusual step that signals the state's contention that individual decision-making within DOJ leadership contributed to the alleged interference.

The filing comes amid broader public and congressional pressure to release the full scope of Epstein investigation files. New Mexico's legal action puts renewed focus on what federal authorities have retained from earlier investigations and the extent to which states may independently pursue accountability for crimes allegedly committed within their jurisdictions.

The DOJ had not issued a public response to the lawsuit at the time of initial reporting. The case is expected to raise significant questions about federal-state jurisdiction over criminal investigations and the limits of DOJ authority to restrict state-level inquiries.