Major developments unfolded this evening in the ongoing controversy surrounding the release of files connected to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, intensifying political tensions and renewing calls for transparency. I am working around the clock to get you the truth about what’s happening, and right now, it really does feel like the tide is turning (slowly, but it is happening). Subscribe to support my around the clock work today.
This evening, President Donald Trump publicly denied any involvement with Epstein, stating, “I have nothing to hide. I have been exonerated. I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. I have been totally exonerated on Epstein.” Trump has repeatedly insisted that investigations have cleared him of wrongdoing.
That’s not true, however. As I reported yesterday, there is at least one instance where FBI investigators believed there to be sufficient, credible allegations to interview a accuser of the President. What materialized from that investigation remains unclear to this day.
Meanwhile, at the state level, New Mexico lawmakers this evening passed legislation to launch what they describe as the first full investigation into activities at Zorro Ranch, Epstein’s sprawling property located roughly 30 miles south of Santa Fe. Epstein was accused of trafficking and sexually assaulting girls and women at multiple properties, including the New Mexico ranch.
The bipartisan initiative will seek testimony from survivors of alleged abuse at the ranch and is urging local residents to come forward. Lawmakers say the goal is to establish a comprehensive record of what occurred there and to ensure accountability where possible. To this day, the Zorro Ranch has never been searched by federal or state authorities. As I describe in this video, state authorities can prosecute individuals in New Mexico, even if the federal government will not:
Adding a new layer of controversy, the Guardian has reported that the Zorro Ranch property was purchased in 2023 by the family of Donald Huffines, a Texas businessman and self-described “Trump Republican” who is currently running for state comptroller. Through an LLC called San Rafael Ranch, the Huffines family acquired the nearly 10,000-acre property after it was put up for auction, with proceeds directed toward Epstein’s victims.
The ranch, initially valued at $21.1 million for tax purposes, was later reassessed at $13.4 million following an appeal that cited the property’s notoriety. A spokesperson for the family stated they had never visited the ranch prior to its auction listing and declined to answer questions about the purpose of the purchase. Huffines, who has campaigned on a platform aligned with prominent MAGA figures, is currently leading in the Republican primary race for comptroller, according to recent polling.
Meanwhile, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sharply criticized the Trump administration’s handling of Epstein-related files, accusing it of a “cover-up.” Speaking to the BBC in Berlin during the annual World Forum, Clinton called for full transparency.
“Get the files out. They are slow-walking it,” she said.
Clinton emphasized that all individuals connected to the case should be subject to equal scrutiny. When asked whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should testify before Congress, she responded, “I think everyone should testify who is asked to testify.”
She also expressed support for public proceedings. “We will show up, but we think it would be better to have it in public,” Clinton told the BBC.
Republican committee chair James Comer accused the Clintons of delay, claiming they “caved” as a contempt vote approached. Clinton rejected the suggestion of preferential treatment and framed her position as a matter of fairness.
“I just want it to be fair. I want everybody treated the same way,” she said. “We have nothing to hide. We have called for the full release of these files repeatedly. We think sunlight is the best disinfectant.”
Clinton further argued that attention on her and former President Bill Clinton was being used to distract from scrutiny of Trump.
“Look at this shiny object. We’re going to have the Clintons, even Hillary Clinton, who never met the guy,” she said.
Clinton acknowledged that she had met Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted associate, “on a few occasions.”
As investigations advance at both the state and federal levels, the political stakes continue to rise. Survivors, lawmakers, and the public are now pressing for greater transparency, with bipartisan calls for testimony and full disclosure signaling that the Epstein files remain a flashpoint in American politics.