The mysterious figure who purchased disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein's sprawling New Mexico estate where multiple survivors said they were sexually abused has been revealed as a Republican firebrand running to be Texas' new comptroller.
Donald Huffines, a former Republican state senator from Dallas, purchased the notorious Zorro Ranch in southern Santa Fe County in 2023 - four years after Epstein was found dead at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports.
The secluded desert ranch - which includes a 26,7000-square-foot mansion - had been listed for sale in July 2021 for $27.5 million, but a published report said the sale price had dropped to $18 million.
It is unclear how much the Huffines wound up spending to purchase the land, but a spokesperson for the family insisted to the New Mexican that proceeds went to Epstein's victims.
'Four years after Mr. Epstein's death, the Huffines family purchased property in New Mexico listed at public auction, whose proceeds benefited his victims,' spokesperson Allen Blakemore said.
'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.
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.'
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.
