State of New Mexico sues Justice Department and Todd Blanche, saying they blocked its Epstein probeCEDAR CREST, N.M. (AP) — The state of New Mexico sued the Department of Justice and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday, saying the federal government blocked the state’s ability to investigate the sex crimes of financier Jeffrey Epstein at a ranch there. A message seeking comment from the Justice Department on Wednesday was not immediately returned. The lawsuit said the Justice Department insisted that information requests be formal and rejected them after they were made. “Todd Blanche today with a stroke of a pen could grant us the access that he claimed,” Torrez said. In December, the Justice Department started releasing investigative records pertaining to Epstein and Maxwell in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.