SEVEN. NEWS AT SIX STARTS RIGHT NOW. THE EPSTEIN TRUTH COMMISSION, HOLDING ITS FIRST PUBLIC MEETING AT THE ROUNDHOUSE MONDAY AFTERNOON. IT WAS FORMED IN FEBRUARY TO INVESTIGATE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AT ZORRO RANCH. JOHN RUPOLO IS HERE. YEAH. DOUG SHELLEY, THE EPSTEIN TRUTH COMMISSION. THAT’S A BIPARTISAN COMMISSION MADE UP OF FOUR LAWMAKERS, WAS FORMED IN FEBRUARY. THEY HIRED AN ALBUQUERQUE LAW FIRM WITH SUBPOENA POWERS TO HELP INVESTIGATE THE HAPPENINGS AT ZORRO RANCH. THIS IS THE AGENDA FOR MONDAY’S FIRST PUBLIC MEETING OF THE EPSTEIN TRUTH COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION, LOOKING TO GET ANSWERS ABOUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AT ZORRO RANCH THROUGH THE EYES OF SURVIVORS, REPORTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ANYONE WHO WORKED AT THE RANCH. WE SPOKE WITH REPRESENTATIVE ANDREA REEVE. SHE CO-CHAIRS THE TRUTH COMMISSION. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THE TRUTH ON THE WHOLE SCENARIO OF WHY THINGS SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS, REEVE SAYS. THEY ARE COMPILING A LIST OF PEOPLE TO QUESTION ONE OF THEM, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL HECTOR BALDERAS, SAID HE WAS TOLD TO STAND DOWN AND AND NOT DO ANYTHING. AND AND THAT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND SEE. WHO TOLD HIM THAT AND WHY DID HE STAND DOWN AND WHY WASN’T IT LOOKED AT EARLIER? THE COMMISSION WILL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, WHO IS ALSO CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO ZORRO RANCH. THEY’RE INTERESTED IN FINDING, IF ANY VIABLE PROSECUTION CASES THAT THEY CAN MAYBE TAKE THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM. AND SO THAT’S THEIR PURPOSE. OUR PURPOSE IS TO ALSO HEAR FROM THOSE VICTIMS. WHILE NOT MESSING OR OBSTRUCTING THEIR CRIMINAL CASES. EARLIER THIS MONTH, WE SPOKE TO EPSTEIN TRUTH COMMISSION CHAIRWOMAN REPRESENTATIVE ANDREA ROMERO. THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WERE PART OF THIS STORY FOR SO MANY YEARS WHO HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION, HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMING FORWARD. THE COMMISSION WILL MEET MONDAY AND THEY HAVE ACTIVATED THIS WEBSITE. SO THE PUBLIC, ANONYMOUS OR NOT, CAN SUBMIT TIPS, BUT ALSO GETTING MORE INFORMATION ON THE EMAILS AND AND THE FINANCIAL RECORDS AND PEOPLE THAT WORKED ON THE RANCH. AND ANYBODY THAT HAS ANY INFORMATION LIKE THE PRIOR ATTORNEY GENERAL, SOME OF HIS STAFF, WHY THINGS WEREN’T DONE. REEVE SAYS THE COMMISSION WILL INTERVIEW SURVIVORS IN PRIVATE, WILL PROTECT THEIR IDENTITY. IT’S NOT ANYTHING THAT WE WANT TO RETRAUMATIZE VICTIMS. WE’RE TAKING A TRAUMA APPROACH TO THIS WHOLE SITUATION. AND WHO KNOWS, MAYBE A VICTIM DOES WANT TO TELL THEIR STORY AND YEAH, AND INITIAL FINDINGS EXPECTED IN JULY. A FINAL REPORT EXPECTED BY THE END OF THE YEAR. REEVE SAYS IT’S A TIGHT TIMELINE, BUT THEY COULD GO BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE AND ASK FOR TIME. AN
Epstein Truth Commission to hold first public meeting at the Roundhouse
Commission will hear from survivors and subpoena witnesses and others
The Epstein Truth Commission will convene its first public meeting Monday to investigate what happened at Zorro Ranch, relying on survivor accounts, law enforcement reports, and testimonies from individuals who worked at the ranch. Rep. Andrea Reeb, co-chair of the commission, said, “We’re looking for the truth on the whole scenario of why things slip through the cracks.” Reeb explained that the commission is compiling a list of people to question, including former Attorney General Hector Balderas.”He said he was told to stand down and not do anything. And that seems like something we need to look at and see who told him that? And why did he stand down? And why wasn’t it looked at earlier?” Reeb said. The commission will collaborate with the New Mexico Department of Justice, which is conducting its own investigation into Zorro Ranch.”They’re interested in finding if any viable prosecution cases that they can maybe take through the court system. And so that’s their purpose. Our purpose is to also hear from those victims while not messing with or obstructing their criminal cases,” Reeb said. Earlier this month, Rep. Andrea Romero, chairwoman of the Epstein Truth Commission, said, “The members of the public who were part of this story for so many years who have a lot of information have already been coming forward.” The commission has activated a website where the public, anonymously or not, can submit tips.”But also getting more information on the emails and the financial records and people that worked on the ranch and anybody that has any information, like the prior attorney general, some of his staff, why things weren’t done,” Reeb said. Reeb emphasized that survivors will be interviewed privately.”We will protect their identity. It’s not anything that we want to re-traumatize victims. We are taking a trauma approach to this whole situation. And who knows, maybe the victim does want to tell their story,” she said.
The Epstein Truth Commission will convene its first public meeting Monday to investigate what happened at Zorro Ranch, relying on survivor accounts, law enforcement reports, and testimonies from individuals who worked at the ranch.
Rep. Andrea Reeb, co-chair of the commission, said, “We’re looking for the truth on the whole scenario of why things slip through the cracks.”
Reeb explained that the commission is compiling a list of people to question, including former Attorney General Hector Balderas.
“He said he was told to stand down and not do anything. And that seems like something we need to look at and see who told him that? And why did he stand down? And why wasn’t it looked at earlier?” Reeb said.
The commission will collaborate with the New Mexico Department of Justice, which is conducting its own investigation into Zorro Ranch.
“They’re interested in finding if any viable prosecution cases that they can maybe take through the court system. And so that’s their purpose. Our purpose is to also hear from those victims while not messing with or obstructing their criminal cases,” Reeb said.
Earlier this month, Rep. Andrea Romero, chairwoman of the Epstein Truth Commission, said, “The members of the public who were part of this story for so many years who have a lot of information have already been coming forward.”
The commission has activated a website where the public, anonymously or not, can submit tips.
“But also getting more information on the emails and the financial records and people that worked on the ranch and anybody that has any information, like the prior attorney general, some of his staff, why things weren’t done,” Reeb said.
Reeb emphasized that survivors will be interviewed privately.
“We will protect their identity. It’s not anything that we want to re-traumatize victims. We are taking a trauma approach to this whole situation. And who knows, maybe the victim does want to tell their story,” she said.
