SANTA FE — Former U.S. Interior Secretary and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland is named in flight records released by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of newly unsealed documents related to financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The records show Haaland was a passenger on a private jet chartered for a September 2014 campaign trip from Santa Fe to Washington, D.C., when she was running for lieutenant governor alongside then–gubernatorial candidate Gary King. The flight manifest lists a limited liability company associated with Epstein as the client connected to the aircraft.
The documents were made public following federal action to release additional materials tied to Epstein, who was convicted in 2008 of procuring a minor for prostitution and later died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
According to the flight log, Haaland and King were among several passengers on the chartered flight, which departed Santa Fe and arrived in the Washington area in the early morning hours of Sept. 9, 2014. The trip occurred during a multi-day fundraising swing in the nation’s capital.
In a statement issued after the documents were released, Haaland’s campaign said she had no knowledge of any connection between the aircraft and Epstein at the time of the flight. A spokesperson said Haaland “never had any interaction” with Epstein and was unaware of how the plane was arranged.
The statement added that Haaland supports continued transparency and investigation into crimes connected to Epstein, including those alleged to have occurred in New Mexico.
King, who served as New Mexico’s attorney general from 2007 to 2015 and was the Democratic nominee for governor in 2014, also responded after the release of the records. King said arrangements for campaign travel were handled through campaign channels and that he did not know at the time that the aircraft was linked to Epstein. He has previously said that campaign donations associated with Epstein were returned after concerns were raised.
The 2014 Democratic ticket ultimately lost the general election.
The disclosure has drawn attention in New Mexico, where Epstein owned Zorro Ranch, a large property south of Santa Fe that has been the subject of scrutiny in past investigations. State lawmakers in recent years have discussed further examination of activities tied to the property and Epstein’s presence in the state.
The newly released records do not indicate that Haaland had any direct contact with Epstein, and no allegations of wrongdoing against her are included in the documents.
Haaland later served two terms in Congress representing New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District before being appointed Interior secretary in 2021. She announced her bid for governor earlier this year.
The release of additional Epstein-related files has renewed public interest nationwide in the financier’s associations with public officials, business leaders and other prominent figures. Federal authorities have said the document disclosures are part of an effort to provide greater transparency into past investigations.
Haaland’s campaign said she remains focused on her gubernatorial race and reiterated that she had no awareness of any Epstein connection related to the 2014 flight.
