New Mexico is once again in the national spotlight for all the wrong reasons after a bombshell report revealed that Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Deb Haaland once flew on a private jet connected to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to reporting by the New York Post, newly released emails show Haaland was among several passengers who traveled on the aircraft in 2014 while attending a meeting in Washington, D.C. At the time, Haaland was running for lieutenant governor as part of then–New Mexico Attorney General Gary King’s campaign.
The flight itself was reportedly chartered by King’s campaign, but emails uncovered in the reporting indicate that Epstein arranged access to the aircraft.
One email cited in the report allegedly asked Epstein about providing the plane for King’s travel, stating: “Please call Gary King when you have a moment… He said he was returning your call but also wanted to speak to you about possibly using your plane to get him from Santa Fe evening of Sept. 8 so he could make a breakfast in DC on Sept. 9.”
Flight documentation shows the aircraft was chartered by JEGE LLC, a company linked to Epstein and registered in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Epstein maintained his infamous private island.
The revelation has sparked renewed scrutiny of New Mexico’s long and troubling connections to Epstein, whose activities in the state have been the subject of ongoing investigation.
Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to charges related to soliciting prostitution — including from a minor — later died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting federal sex trafficking charges.
Haaland’s campaign quickly sought to distance her from the disgraced financier, insisting she had no knowledge of the plane’s connection to Epstein.
“Deb never had any interaction with him and the way in which the plane was chartered was never communicated to her,” campaign spokesperson Hannah Menchhoff said in a statement to the New York Post. The spokesperson added that Haaland considers Epstein a “despicable predator” and supports investigations into crimes associated with him both in New Mexico and internationally.
Still, the story has raised uncomfortable questions for the candidate, who is currently leading in early polling for New Mexico’s 2026 gubernatorial race.
The controversy also draws renewed attention to Epstein’s extensive ties to the state, particularly through the Zorro Ranch property in Santa Fe County. The ranch was sold to Epstein in 1993 by the family of Gary King, whose father, former Governor Bruce King, owned the property before the sale.
State officials have recently reopened investigations into possible criminal activity connected to Epstein’s New Mexico estate.
Gary King has also addressed the matter publicly, saying his campaign — not he personally — handled the logistics of chartering the aircraft. He said he was unaware of the connection to Epstein at the time.
“If I had known in advance that the jet belonged to Epstein, I would have asked my campaign to charter with a different company,” King reportedly said.
King acknowledged meeting Epstein once in 2010 in Santa Fe but claimed the meeting occurred when Epstein offered condolences after the death of Bruce King.
While Haaland’s campaign maintains she had no knowledge of the aircraft’s connection to Epstein, the revelation has nonetheless placed New Mexico politics under an uncomfortable national microscope.
For a state still grappling with the legacy of Epstein’s activities within its borders, the resurfacing of these connections — particularly involving a major gubernatorial candidate — has reignited debate about accountability, transparency, and the lasting shadow of one of the most notorious criminal scandals in modern history.
With the race for governor heating up, the controversy is likely to remain a flashpoint as voters weigh the implications of New Mexico’s continued ties to the Epstein saga.
This is a nothing-burger and Dems will ignore. The real focus should be on Haaland’s qualifications of which, as far as I have seen, are slim to none. Dumb as a box of rocks.
exactly right.
Doesn’t surprise me at all. She is a disgrace as well as grishem,Ben Ray heinrich. Can’t remember all the names but there are a bunch more. They have totally destroyed NM.
Haaland’s denial reminds me of Bill Clinton’s claim- – “I never had sex with that woman, Monica Lewinsky.”
Why in Gods green earth is this person (who is dumb as a rock) the leading candidate for governor????? It is totally beyoned my comprehension that she is even running for any office. What did she do as the so called “secretary of the Interior?” Nothing. I watched her in one of the committees in DC and she could not answer one question, without saying I don’t know? I will have to ask my staff… clearly she had staff doing all her work (if you want to call it that).
Wake up New Mexico and STOP voting in these foolish and stupid people who could care less about NM.
Unfortunately, Liberal, Leftist, Misfit, Illegal immigrant, Dead, Ignorant, Brainwashed, Socialist, Minority, Self-victimized, Trans, Union-loving, Welfare-recipient, Native-American people who vote in NM elections don’t care how qualified or knowledgeable the Democrat candidate is. They have and will continue to vote for them. This isn’t meant to be a slur against any of those groups – just the truth on how the majority of them vote and proudly admit it.
the obvious answer is that voters are that dumb. When the voters tell you they are stupid, believe them. They will walk through fire and over broken glass to vote for this incompetent person based on skin color, gender, and ethnicity. there is no hope for NM. its a hopeless place.
Typical Democrat
Another idiot put in a position by a corrupt INCOMPETENT party! I’ll bargain I have more Indian blood in my veins than she does! An imposter with nothing of value to the Tribes or the people of New Mexico and she will continue her sham! Especially if the dembocraps vote her in –if she loses the vote she will cry discrimination and blame the world.. She needs removed and banned from ANY and ALL Government positions!
O hell, “Governor” Richardson brought a lot more shame & was probably a pedo like his BBF Clinton
I dispise her but this is a nothing story and won’t affect anything.
Maybe expose the connections our female NM US Reps have to Ghislaine Maxwell. Lots of dirt on both. Why are they still in office?
Haaland a complete idiot. Watch some cspan videos of her testimony in front of congress and one would have to ask how such an incompetent individual could ever make it into the inner circle in Washington. She doesn’t have brain cell number one to qualify for ANY government position.
Corrupt patron system with servile local media.
Haaland is the Native American Biden
Deb Haaland is not just an infamous friend of Epstein, riding with him on the Lolita express is only one of her adventures, she’s also widely known as a drunk, in New Mexico, her reputation is shot. “Dunkin’ Deb”, is a local nick name for her. I’ve seen her taking publicity photo ops at senior centers, yet she utterly refuses to do the slightest supportive thing for the center itself. Her desire to abort every baby for miles around, and have a pot store in every block, is not what New Mexico needs!!!