Texas businessman and former state senator Don Huffines, now a candidate for Texas comptroller, purchased the New Mexico estate known as Zorro Ranch - a property once owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein - according to public property records first reported by the Santa Fe New Mexican.
The ranch sits in Santa Fe County outside Stanley, New Mexico, and spans thousands of acres of remote desert land. It was one of several properties tied to Epstein that appeared in civil lawsuits filed by victims who said abuse occurred at multiple locations connected to him. Epstein died in 2019 while awaiting federal trial, and his estate later sold assets to cover debts and settlements.
Records show the property was sold years after Epstein’s death as part of those proceedings. There is no allegation that Huffines was connected to Epstein or involved in any criminal activity related to the property. The purchase has drawn attention primarily because of the location’s notoriety and Huffines’ current statewide campaign.
The site itself was not charged with a crime, but it became widely known as one of the locations named in legal filings during investigations into Epstein’s trafficking operation. Following his death, courts oversaw the liquidation of assets belonging to his estate, including real estate holdings in New York, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands and New Mexico.
Political observers note that candidates often face scrutiny over business transactions involving historically controversial properties, even when acquired legally years later. The issue has circulated widely online, where discussions have focused on the property’s past rather than the circumstances of the sale.
No law enforcement agency has announced any investigation involving the current ownership of the ranch. The matter remains a political and reputational issue tied to the property’s history rather than a criminal case.
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