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SANTA FE 鈥� A legislative panel tasked with digging into oversight gaps related to Jeffrey Epstein鈥檚 activities in New Mexico announced a new round of subpoenas Thursday, seeking records from several agencies under the U.S. Department of Justice and four state entities.

The bipartisan Truth Commission announced the new subpoenas during a remote meeting Thursday. It previously issued 14 subpoenas earlier this month and has delivered all of those subpoenas for agencies within New Mexico, said Rep. Andrea Romero, D-Santa Fe, the panel鈥檚 chairwoman.

Romero said in an interview after Thursday鈥檚 meeting the commission is hopeful all records sought are readily provided, adding, 鈥淐ompliance is meant to be implied.鈥�

Of the new subpoenas, one will be delivered to the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham鈥檚 office informed investigators that records tied to former Gov. Bill Richardson鈥檚 tenure in office had been previously handed over to the agency.

A spokesperson for Richardson said in 2019 the former two-term governor, congressman, diplomat and Cabinet official in the Clinton administration had only visited Epstein's Zorro Ranch once, in 2012. Richardson died in 2023.

But files released this year by the U.S. Department of Justice appear to contradict that claim, as his name is mentioned over 800 times in the Epstein files, often in emails where he and Epstein coordinate dinners or phone calls.

Meanwhile, subpoenas will also be delivered to three additional state agencies: the Department of Health, the Regulation and Licensing Department and the Public Regulation Commission.

Subpoenas will also target records from federal prosecutors in U.S. Attorney鈥檚 Offices in four states and territories 鈥� Florida, South Carolina, Michigan and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Former New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas said earlier this year that federal prosecutors in 2019 asked state officials to halt their investigation into sex trafficking at Zorro Ranch, promising to share information that ultimately was not provided.

Current state Attorney General Ra煤l Torrez announced in February that New Mexico was reopening its criminal investigation into Epstein鈥檚 past activities in the state. His office is working in collaboration with the legislative truth-finding commission, both sides say.

No criminal charges related to the investigation have been announced to date, though investigators carried out a search at Zorro Ranch in March after getting consent from the property鈥檚 new owner.

Epstein purchased the Zorro Ranch from the family of former Gov. Bruce King in 1993. The property is near Stanley on more than 7,500 acres of land and features a 33,339-square-foot mansion, pool, hot tub and other structures. It was sold for an undisclosed price in 2023 to the family of Texas real estate mogul Don Huffines.

Court documents and civil cases have accused Epstein of sexually assaulting teenage girls and women at the ranch, which was one of several properties owned by Epstein. The financier and convicted sex offender also reportedly had homes in New York, Florida, Paris and the Virgin Islands.

The four-member Truth Commission faces a July 31 deadline to provide an update to House leadership, that established the panel. A final report to all members of the House is due by the end of this year, though it鈥檚 possible the commission鈥檚 work could be extended.

Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.