A public dispute between New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and the U.S. Department of Justice has escalated as state officials accused federal authorities of refusing to provide records sought in an ongoing investigation tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's former New Mexico ranch, Axios reported Wednesday.

The standoff centers on unredacted records sought by New Mexico investigators probing allegations that Epstein trafficked and sexually abused girls and women at Zorro Ranch, his sprawling property outside Santa Fe.

Torrez renewed accusations that the DOJ is obstructing the state's probe by withholding key documents, warning that New Mexico could pursue legal action if federal authorities fail to comply with a July 31 deadline.

In a letter sent last month to acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, Torrez wrote that despite "verbal assurances of cooperation from the USDOJ," state investigators had not been granted access to the requested documents and had received "no substantive response."

Torrez said New Mexico would consider the request denied and "pursue all available legal remedies" if access is not provided by the end of the month.

The disagreement intensified Tuesday when the New Mexico Department of Justice said on X that officials from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York had informed the state they would not cooperate with the investigation.

"The U.S. DOJ called to inform us they will NOT cooperate and will not support the only active criminal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein," the agency said.

A Justice Department spokesperson sharply rejected that characterization, calling it "false."

"Federal law, court orders and privacy protections for victims and witnesses do not allow us to release millions of unredacted documents, regardless of any deadline set by NMDOJ," the spokesperson said in a statement to Axios. "We will continue to follow federal law and the court orders that are in place."

The spokesperson added that to "capitulate to their demands would be to break federal law. Is that what the NM AG is suggesting?"

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions over access to records related to Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.

New Mexico lawmakers announced a renewed probe in February into allegations that Epstein used Zorro Ranch as a site for trafficking and sexual abuse. That same month, the attorney general's office requested unredacted access to a 2019 anonymous email alleging that two "foreign girls" were buried on the property.

The allegations have drawn renewed scrutiny because of testimony and claims connected to the ranch.

During the 2021 trial of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein accuser Annie Farmer testified that Maxwell abused her at Zorro Ranch when she was 16 years old. Farmer has also accused Epstein of sexually abusing her at the property.

A previous criminal investigation in New Mexico concluded in 2019 without charges being filed.