1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support House Joint Resolution 1, which would create a bipartisan truth commission to investigate crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein at his Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe County. With only 4 days remaining in the legislative session, time is critical to advance this resolution to a floor vote and ensure New Mexico pursues accountability where federal and state authorities have failed. The resolution has already received unanimous approval from both the House Judiciary Committee and the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee, demonstrating strong bipartisan support for this fact-finding mission. The proposed commission would have subpoena power to compel witness testimony and conduct hearings, with a final report due by December 31. New Mexico has a unique opportunity to be the only state in the country offering accountability for crimes connected to Epstein. While other nations are pursuing justice for those named in the Epstein files, the United States has taken no meaningful action despite numerous powerful individuals being implicated, including President Donald Trump and former Governor Bill Richardson. As Rep. Dayan Hochman-Vigil noted, we have seen nothing of the sort in America, making New Mexico's leadership essential. This issue is particularly urgent because Epstein was never required to register as a sex offender in New Mexico despite owning the Stanley ranch for decades and being convicted in Florida in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution. Rep. Matthew McQueen attempted to close this loophole in 2020, but the bill failed. The truth commission represents a critical step toward understanding how these failures occurred and preventing them in the future. I ask that you vote yes on House Joint Resolution 1 when it reaches the House floor. New Mexico residents deserve answers about what happened at Zorro Ranch, and victims deserve accountability. This commission would send a clear message that New Mexico will not be a safe haven for those who exploit the vulnerable.