BREAKING NEWS: Potential Conflict Emerges in New Mexico Epstein Truth Commission Procurement
The New Mexico official overseeing the Truth Commission’s legal hire has ties to the Texas office sought by the ranch’s current owner.
The official overseeing the selection of legal counsel for New Mexico’s Epstein Truth Commission previously worked in the Texas Comptroller’s office — the same office now being sought by the man who purchased Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch.
Gerardo Antonio Paredes Jr., Chief Procurement Officer for New Mexico’s Legislative Council Service, is responsible for managing the request for proposals (RFP) that will determine which law firm leads the commission’s investigation into activities at Zorro Ranch. The contract is scheduled to be awarded April 10.
Public records show that Paredes formerly worked as a Tax Analyst II under Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, a Republican who was twice endorsed by Donald Trump. Donald Huffines — a Dallas businessman, Trump ally whose son works in the Trump cabinet, and the secret buyer of Zorro Ranch in 2023 — is now the Trump-endorsed frontrunner to lead that same office following a decisive March 2026 primary victory.
Under New Mexico's procurement rules, Paredes does not make the final selection himself — that decision belongs to the four members of the House Special Investigatory Committee. But his role in the process is far from ceremonial. As Chief Procurement Officer, Paredes controls the mechanics that shape what the committee sees: he writes the evaluation criteria, scores the proposals, determines which firms are deemed technically compliant, and prepares the materials on which the legislators base their decision. A procurement officer who shapes the inputs controls, in meaningful ways, the output. That is why his employment history matters — and why his recusal from the evaluation process is warranted regardless of where the final vote sits.
A Commission Created Unanimously
On February 16, 2026, the New Mexico House voted 62–0 to establish the Epstein Truth Commission, a bipartisan body with subpoena power tasked with investigating Jeffrey Epstein’s activities at his 7,600-acre Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe County. House Speaker Javier Martínez appointed four members to the commission immediately after passage: Representatives Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe) and Marianna Anaya (D-Albuquerque), and Representatives Andrea Reeb (R-Clovis) and William A. Hall II (R-Aztec). The commission’s mandate includes building an official record of events at the property, examining potential failures by local and state authorities, and supporting accountability efforts for survivors. The four committee members will select the winning law firm themselves.
The RFP for outside legal counsel was issued March 13, with proposals due April 2.
Limited Public Profile
Paredes has signed procurement documents for the Legislative Council Service since at least 2022. Beyond public salary records and official filings, he maintains little visible public presence.
Those records indicate his prior employment in the Texas Comptroller’s office during Hegar’s tenure. Hegar resigned in 2025 to become chancellor of Texas A&M University. He was succeeded on an interim basis by Kelly Hancock, who lost the 2026 Republican primary to Huffines by a wide margin.
Concerns About Process Integrity
There is no public evidence of a personal relationship between Paredes and Huffines.
However, ethics experts generally emphasize that public procurement processes must avoid not only actual conflicts of interest but also the appearance of potential conflicts — particularly in high-profile investigations involving political figures or their assets.
In this case, the procurement officer overseeing the selection process previously worked in the same state office that the current owner of Zorro Ranch is expected to lead.
What Happens Next
The contract for legal counsel is expected to be awarded April 10. The selected firm will play a central role in shaping the commission’s investigation, including evidence gathering, witness interviews, and coordination with state authorities.
Why am I not surprised?! 🤦♀️ There is no end to the criminal grifting in this country. Pay to play on steroids. If you have enough money to line the pockets of officials you can get whatever you want. We are SO screwed as a country.
It bespeaks of the tightness of ownership of whatever must be controlled and planning in advance so far it takes a true investigative journalist with a 6th sense to understand the situation and bring it to the attention of the correct members of the community involved in a several million dollar investigation!