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The enigmatic buyer of Jeffrey Epstein’s expansive New Mexico property, infamous for alleged incidents of abuse, has been identified as a Republican candidate aiming to become Texas’ next comptroller.
Donald Huffines, a former Republican senator hailing from Dallas, acquired the infamous Zorro Ranch in southern Santa Fe County in 2023. This purchase comes four years after Epstein’s death at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York, as reported by the Santa Fe New Mexican.
The remote desert estate, featuring a 26,700-square-foot mansion, was initially put on the market in July 2021 for $27.5 million. However, reports later indicated the asking price had fallen to $18 million.
Although the exact amount Huffines paid for the property remains unknown, a family representative assured the New Mexican that the sale proceeds were directed to Epstein’s victims.
“Four years following Mr. Epstein’s death, the Huffines family acquired property in New Mexico at a public auction, with the proceeds benefiting his victims,” stated spokesperson Allen Blakemore.
‘Prior to the listing auction, they had never visited the property.’
After the sale went through, the Huffines petitioned to lower the ranch’s assessed value, arguing in part that the ‘notoriety’ of the property and the final sales price justified a lower valuation, according to documents obtained by the New Mexican.
The Santa Fe County assessor ultimately agreed, with court records showing that in December 2024, he determined the value of the property to be $13.4 million for fiscal year 2023 – and not the $21.1 million it was initially assessed at.
Donald Huffines, a former Republican state senator from Dallas who is now running to be Texas’ new comptroller, purchased disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein’s sprawling New Mexico estate in 2023 for an undisclosed amount
Multiple survivors said they were sexually abused at the secluded desert ranch – which includes a 26,7000-square-foot mansion (pictured)
By 2024, Huffines apparently sought to distance his new property from its former owner by renaming it the ‘San Rafael Ranch’ and changing its address from 49 Zorro Ranch Road to 49 Rancho San Rafael Road.
The Texas businessman is now the frontrunner in the Republican comptroller primary race in Texas.
His campaign website says he is running to ‘DOGE Texas Government,’ referring to President Trump’s efforts to shrink the size of the government.
Among his goals as comptroller, which oversees state financial matters, is to ‘abolish woke DEI,’ referring to the practice of diversity, equity and inclusion, and to ‘eliminate benefits for illegal aliens.’
Huffines goes on to describe himself on his campaign website as a ‘successful businessman, fifth-generation Texan and Trump Republican who will bring a private sector mindset to the comptroller’s office.’
‘He’s running for comptroller to bring President Trump’s bold leadership and business-minded discipline to Austin,’ Huffines’ bio on his campaign website reads.
‘He has a proven record of fighting for taxpayers, standing with President Trump and leading with courage when it matters most.’
The site adds that he has been endorsed by the late Charlie Kirk, along with US Senator Ted Cruz, conservative activist Riley Gaines and ‘every major conservative organization in Texas.’
Epstein purchased the former Zorro Ranch in 1993 from former New Mexico Governor Bruce King
But his New Mexico property carries some baggage.
Epstein purchased the former Zorro Ranch in 1993 from former New Mexico Governor Bruce King.
He once reportedly confided to scientists that he wanted to spread his DNA across the human race by impregnating women at the ranch, according to four sources who spoke to The New York Times.
Several victims who have come forward over the years to accuse Epstein of sex trafficking them as children have also claimed they were abused by the disgraced financier at the ranch.
Among them was a victim called Jane, who said she was only 14 when she suffered abuse at Epstein’s properties – including the one in New Mexico.
Virginia Giuffre, who famously accused the UK’s former Prince Andrew of sexual assault, was also pictured at the ranch.
New Mexico authorities are now working to establish a ‘truth commission’ to investigate whether any illicit activity was conducted at the ranch and to identify anyone who may have been involved, KOB reports.
The initiative is a New Mexico House measure, meaning only the House has to approve it – and does not need Senate approval or the governor’s signature for it to move forward.
A hearing on the matter is now scheduled for Monday, with State Rep. Andrea Romero saying lawmakers are going to try to ‘get everything on the record in the timespan that [Epstein] was here.
‘When we heard the allegations from his various victims of people who alleged that they were trafficked here, that they were sexually abused here – some as children – I’m just heartbroken,’ she told KOB.
‘And it’s so disgusting to think that that happened on our watch at all.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Huffines for comment.