New Mexico AG Ordered to Stand Down From Epstein Zorro Ranch Investigation
"Former New Mexico Attorney General Hector Valderas was told to quote, stand down, unquote, from investigating disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch, about 40 miles south of Santa Fe. He told the outlet that he had been looking into crimes that Epstein may have committed there in 2019 until he received a call from the Southern District of New York telling him to back off."
About this episode
This episode provides an in-depth examination of recent Congressional testimony by billionaire Leon Black regarding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, alongside explosive revelations about Department of Justice violations in releasing court-ordered documents. The discussion centers on Black's appearance before the House Oversight Committee where he refused to answer questions about nondisclosure agreements with women connected to Epstein, resulting in immediate bipartisan subpoenas compelling his return for sworn testimony on July 16th. The hosts dissect a 2024 Puck News interview where Black admitted knowing about Epstein's 2006 pedophilia conviction but dismissed it as not serious, continuing to pay Epstein $158 million in fees through 2017. A federal judge's ruling that the DOJ violated Congressional law requiring release of Epstein files receives detailed analysis, with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch given one week to comply or justify the agency's noncompliance. The episode also covers newly surfaced emails between Black and Epstein containing suggestive code language about things that must remain unknown, contradicting supposedly thorough independent investigations. Additional coverage includes Scripps News reporting that New Mexico's Attorney General was ordered to stand down from investigating Epstein's Zorro Ranch by the Southern District of New York in 2019. The hosts examine Jay Clayton's connections to both the Southern District and Apollo Global Management, where he succeeded Black as chairman. Throughout the discussion, hosts connect these developments to broader patterns of elite protection and institutional cover-up in the Epstein case.
Key takeaways
- Federal judge ruled the Department of Justice violated Congressional law requiring release of Jeffrey Epstein documents and gave DOJ one week to comply or justify withholding information
- Billionaire Leon Black refused to discuss NDAs with Epstein-connected women during Congressional testimony and was immediately subpoenaed to return for sworn deposition on July 16th
- Leon Black admitted in 2024 Puck News interview that he knew about Epstein's 2006 pedophilia conviction but dismissed it as not serious while continuing to pay him $158 million
- Newly reviewed emails between Epstein and Black contain code language about things that must remain unknown and saving you from yourself contradicting independent investigations
- New Mexico Attorney General was ordered by Southern District of New York to halt investigation into Epstein's Zorro Ranch in 2019 preventing state-level inquiry
- Jay Clayton who led Southern District during Epstein case now serves as U.S. Attorney for that jurisdiction and previously succeeded Leon Black as Apollo chairman
- Multiple civil lawsuits allege Leon Black committed sexual assault at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse including claims involving an autistic woman with mosaic Down syndrome