Even before legislation was passed to form New Mexico’s “truth commission” to investigate the activities and potential crimes of Jeffrey Epstein in the state, Marianna Anaya said she spent time digging through the publicly released files related to the financier and convicted sex offender.
With a background in advocacy for sexual assault survivors, the Albuquerque state representative said a pitfall in the past was that people didn’t listen to survivors, thinking allegations were “too out of this world to believe.” With what’s been learned through the Epstein files, Anaya said “the things that happened to survivors are so horrific that there’s nothing that’s off the table.”
In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast,” Anaya joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Clara Bates to discuss how she became one of the four members of the bipartisan truth commission, the progress of the panel so far, and the breadth of potential crimes committed in the state related to the Epstein case.
Anaya shares her history as an organizer, activist and lobbyist, and how decision to run for the state House came in the spur of the moment following a narrow defeat of paid family and medical leave legislation she had been supporting.
The Democrat then speaks on her involvement in the truth commission, and how her advocacy for victims of sexual assault has informed her work on the panel. She says she’s proud of the work of the bipartisan commission, which she said has avoided making their work political and has remained focused on seeking justice for survivors.
Bates asks Anaya about The New Mexican’s recent reporting on Epstein having a private ambulance at Zorro Ranch and possibly a dental office. Anaya said there has been testimony from survivors that some woke up in medical settings in New Mexico. She then goes over the types of potential crimes committed in the state related to Epstein, including sex trafficking, medical crimes and financial crimes.
Anaya is also asked about the one year the commission has to come up with a full report for the Epstein investigation. She said members have never thought one year was enough time, and that she hopes the Legislature will be able to extend the life of the commission at the end of the year.
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