The Attorney General and Congresswoman highlighted how the proposed amendments to the original Epstein Transparency Act would strengthen the law by giving state law enforcement meaningful access to federal investigative records, preserving states’ existing legal remedies when records are improperly withheld, and making clear that the Act applies to ongoing investigations.
Source: N.M. Department of Justice
Albuquerque, NM — Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández and New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez today discussed key transparency provisions drafted by the New Mexico Department of Justice and introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives as part of H.R. 9694, the Epstein Files Transparency Act II. Congresswoman Leger Fernández co-led the bill’s introduction in the House.
The Attorney General and Congresswoman highlighted how the proposed amendments to the original Epstein Transparency Act would strengthen the law by giving state law enforcement meaningful access to federal investigative records, preserving states’ existing legal remedies when records are improperly withheld, and making clear that the Act applies to ongoing investigations.
“Victims of Jeffrey Epstein have waited years for the truth. They should not have to wait any longer because the U.S. Department of Justice invents a procedural excuse,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “These amendments make sure that state investigators can get the records Congress ordered disclosed, without interference and without delay. I thank Congresswoman Leger Fernández for her partnership in getting this right.”
“Congress already ordered the Epstein files released. The Department of Justice had 30 days to comply, yet millions of files remain hidden from the American people,” said Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández. “Survivors have waited long enough for the truth. That’s why I co-led the Epstein Files Transparency Act II—to give survivors, state attorneys general like Raul Torrez, and prosecutors the key to the courts. No one—no matter how rich, powerful, or well-connected—gets to hide from accountability. When Trump’s administration does not comply with the law, there must be consequences.”
The New Mexico Department of Justice’s amendments adopted in the legislation:
- Clarify that the Act, not existing federal Touhy regulations, governs state law enforcement requests for records covered by the legislation, preventing federal agencies from relying on those regulations to withhold, delay, or condition production.
- Preserve all other legal avenues available to state attorneys general, district attorneys, and other authorized state officials to challenge improper withholding or redaction of records, ensuring the Act supplements rather than replaces existing legal remedies.
- Make clear that the legislation applies to investigations already pending at the time of enactment, allowing current state investigations to benefit immediately from the Act’s disclosure requirements.
Attorney General Torrez has consistently advocated for full transparency surrounding the federal government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and has sought access to records necessary to determine whether additional criminal conduct occurred, whether victims are entitled to further justice, and whether any individuals or institutions escaped accountability.
The strengthened legislation reflects a shared commitment by Congresswoman Leger Fernández and Attorney General Torrez to ensure that federal agencies cannot use procedural barriers to shield information from legitimate state law enforcement investigations when Congress has directed that those records be disclosed.
For more information about the Act, visit HERE.
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