A power struggle between U.S. investigative agencies handling the case of billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is hindering efforts to uncover the truth.

CNN reported that New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torres has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice and Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche for allegedly obstructing the Epstein investigation.

New Mexico is home to Zorro Ranch, which has been identified as a site where Epstein's sex crimes took place, and the DOJ and state investigative authorities have been jointly investigating the ranch.

According to the lawsuit, the U.S. Department of Justice has not shared evidence related to the alleged sexual abuse inside Zorro Ranch with New Mexico investigators, citing the protection of victim identities.

State Attorney General Torres stated that information-sharing with federal investigators has faced persistent resistance, noting that separate requests for critical information were made 10 times and all were ignored.

He went on to criticize that the Justice Department and Acting Attorney General Blanche are concealing information about Epstein and his accomplices, adding that the federal government's inaction is not only delaying the investigation but also compounding the suffering of survivors.

The U.S. Department of Justice immediately pushed back.

It argued that it has no obligation to share unredacted files with the New Mexico government and that protecting the privacy of victims must take priority.

However, victims of Epstein's sexual abuse sided with New Mexico.

Legal representatives for the victims pointed out that the Justice Department's claim that it cannot hand over the files to protect victim identities is laughable, considering that they have already leaked names and personal information.

Epstein was a billionaire hedge fund manager who was indicted on charges of sex crimes, including inviting influential figures and arranging for them to have sexual relations with females, including minors.

Epstein took his own life in prison in 2019.

Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News