New Mexico Lawmaker Pushes for Truth Commission on Epstein’s Zorro Ranch—Local Media and Independent Journalists Drove Renewed Accountability

Santa Fe, NM —  In a bold legislative move, State Representative Andrea Romero (D–Santa Fe) has announced plans to introduce a bill establishing a “truth commission” with subpoena powers to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch—an isolated estate long linked to allegations of sex trafficking, abuse, and eugenics experiments. The commission would be empowered to compel testimony, subpoena documents, and finally confront the lingering shadows cast over New Mexico’s role in one of the most disturbing scandals of the 21st century.

While national media has focused on Epstein’s ties to Washington elites, it is New Mexico’s independent journalists and regional outlets who have kept the spotlight on Zorro Ranch and the state’s institutional failures.

State Representative Andrea Romero (D–Santa Fe) has announced plans to introduce a bill establishing a “truth commission” - AlamogordoTownNews.org

Romero’s proposal is not just a policy initiative—it’s a direct response to grassroots reporting that has continued, survivor advocacy, and community pressure raising consciousness back closer to home. 

Zorro Ranch: A Legacy of Secrecy and Alleged Abuse

Epstein acquired Zorro Ranch in 1993, transforming it into a compound with a mansion, helipad, private airstrip, and underground facilities. Leased from the state for just $200 annually, the property became a remote haven allegedly used for illicit activities. Unsealed documents from 2024 referenced “disgusting” acts involving minors, with New Mexico mentioned over two dozen times. Despite federal raids on Epstein’s other properties, Zorro Ranch was never fully searched by state authorities. Its 2023 sale to an overseas LLC through shell companies only deepened public suspicion.

Local and Independent Media: The Backbone of Accountability to Keep the Story Alive and Local

Romero’s truth commission proposal is rooted in the work of New Mexico’s independent media ecosystem, which has consistently investigated Epstein’s ties to the state:

2nd Life Media / AlamogordoTownNews.org

 Report: “Jeffrey Epstein in New Mexico: A Timeline and Lessons Learned” (August 12, 2025)

Impact: This Alamogordo-based outlet connected Epstein’s operations to broader vulnerabilities in rural New Mexico, including land oversight, trafficking risks, and institutional ties. It amplified survivor voices and called for legislative reform—directly informing Romero’s proposal.

 Read the full timeline

NewMexicoConservativeNews.com

Coverage: Focused on state land mismanagement, political connections to Epstein, and the lack of criminal accountability.

Impact: Their reporting highlighted bipartisan failures and called for transparency in land leases and law enforcement coordination.

KALHRadio.org - The station and its news partners, AlamogordoTownNews.com and NewMexicoConservativeNews.com, have been covering aspects of the Epstein case related to New Mexico since at least July 2023.

Coverage: Local radio segments and interviews hosted by Anthony Lucero revealed legal experts and community advocates thoughts 

Impact: Provided streaming accessible coverage for southern New Mexico audiences, especially in Otero County, and emphasized the need for survivor-centered justice.

KRQE Investigators

Podcast & Report: “Jeffrey Epstein’s Ties to New Mexico: A Deep-Dive Discussion”

Impact: Uncovered documents from the NM Attorney General’s office and tracked the mysterious sale of Zorro Ranch.

Independent Blogs and Citizen Journalism

 To include Chris Martenson, Auntie Barnes, Jason Brassler and others with articles such as  “Desert Secrets NM,” “Truth in the High Desert,” and “NM Watchdog Voices”

Impact: These platforms have published survivor testimonies, flight log analyses, opinions and speculative connections to scientific institutions and political figures.

Together, these outlets have created a mosaic of accountability—one that national media often overlooks

Romero’s commission proposal is a direct response to the persistence of keeping the story local and alive. 

Maxwell gives Epstein a massage next to French model scout Jean-Luc Brunel on the plane to New Mexico (US District Attorney’s Office)

 Implications for Alamogordo and Southern New Mexico

Though Zorro Ranch is located in central New Mexico, its legacy reverberates across the state.

Alamogordo’s proximity to White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base has fueled speculation about Epstein’s interest in scientific collaborations, given his documented obsession with eugenics and ties to physicists. Reports suggest he courted New Mexico scientists, possibly leveraging research hubs that extend southward into Otero County and beyond.

Romero’s commission could subpoena flight logs, land lease records, and institutional ties—ensuring that southern communities like Alamogordo aren’t sidelined in the pursuit of justice. 

As 2nd Life Media warned, “lessons unlearned risk repetition,” and the state’s integrity depends on confronting its past without fear or favor.

A Long-Overdue Investigation 

Critics argue the proposal is years overdue, especially after federal declassifications in 2025 revealed more Epstein files

Yet Romero’s bill may finally dismantle systemic protections for the powerful in New Mexico and offer survivors a formal platform to share their stories and seek justice outside of New York or D.C. 

For Alamogordo residents and readers of 2nd Life Media as well as other collaborations via local independent media outlets this isn’t just a Santa Fe scandal—it’s a statewide call to vigilance

The truth commission could mark a turning point in New Mexico’s ability to protect its most vulnerable and hold its most powerful accountable.

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