New Mexico
Tuesday morning forecast
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – For a fourth day in a row on Monday, we broke another high record temperature in Albuquerque as we topped off at 69°. This was also the second day in a row with the warmest temperature of the month so far, and the sixth day in December of record-breaking highs. Eight other towns broke record high temperatures yesterday (Clayton, Farmington, Gallup, Las Vegas, Portales, Raton, Santa Fe, and Tucumcari). Today, we are not expecting to break a record high temperature in Albuquerque, but it is still going to be very warm.
Today’s forecast
Another day of mostly sunny skies for a majority of the Land of Enchantment are expected today – mainly the eastern half. A bit more clouds (partly cloudy to mostly cloudy skies) may move into areas for our far western communities such as the Four Corners and southwest New Mexico. Sunshine will still break through the clouds, and we’ll see another big warm up this afternoon. These clouds will eventually move east in the late afternoon/early evening. We’re still looking at temperatures +20° above the normal statewide. This would mark a full week of us seeing afternoon highs in the 60s here in Albuquerque. Remember, we’re now in the last full week of December.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Break out the Christmas t-shirts instead of the Christmas sweaters, plus an umbrella for some western and central communities. We’re still on track to receive our first batch of sky water since the first week of December over the next couple of days. A low-pressure system has moved into the atmospheric river that is impacting many California communities as well as far western Arizona and southern Nevada, where Flood Watches remain in effect. This system will pull the moisture from the atmospheric river to the east over the next 24-48 hours during Christmas Eve & Day. Western communities in New Mexico have the earliest potential at rainfall starting tomorrow in the morning and then another round possible in the afternoon. We’re keeping it at a 10-20% chance for the morning hours and increasing that in the afternoon/evening. Spotty rain may try to make it to Albuquerque late Wednesday evening. Heading into Christmas Day, showers are possible in the early-mid morning across west and central New Mexcico – between 7 to 9 a.m. here in Albuquerque. Another round of showers are possible in the afternoon after 12 p.m. A cold front will follow Thursday late afternoon; however temperatures are still expected to be above freezing in almost all areas with the exception of +9,000 feet in the north mountains & southwest Colorado mountains which are the only spots that could see some snow. No white Christmas for Albuquerque, just a slightly soggy and warm Christmas.
New Mexico
Here’s why both of New Mexico’s senators voted against Todd Blanche for Trump’s Atty General – New Mexico Political Report
By a one vote margin, 50-49, the United States Senate voted early Saturday morning to approve President Donald Trump’s nomination of Todd Blanche, his former personal attorney and acting attorney general, to be the permanent Attorney General of the United States. Todd’s nomination was opposed by every Democrat and two Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
Senator Martin Heinrich, a Democrat, issued this statement:
“I voted against Mr. Blanche’s nomination because he has repeatedly shown that his loyalty is to Donald Trump – not to the Constitution or the American people.
“He has transformed the Department of Justice into the President’s personal law firm, using it to enrich and protect Donald Trump and his family. Mr. Blanche also helped establish a nearly $2 billion slush fund that rewards President Trump’s allies, including violent criminals who attacked cops on January 6. And he has withheld critical information related to Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes at Zorro Ranch by refusing to provide full, unredacted investigative records from the Department of Justice to New Mexico law enforcement authorities. Time and again, Mr. Blanche has put politics and personal loyalty ahead of justice.
“The Attorney General’s job is to uphold the rule of law, deliver on public safety, and ensure that justice is applied fairly and independently. The American people deserve an Attorney General they can trust to do that. Todd Blanche has made it abundantly clear that he is not that person.”
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, Aug. 8, 2026
Senator Ben Ray Luján, a Democrat, issued this statement:
“The Attorney General’s duty is to uphold the rule of law, defend the Constitution, and ensure that justice is applied fairly and equally to every American. Todd Blanche’s record makes it clear that he cannot carry out those responsibilities independently of President Trump.
“The survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s horrific crimes — and the American people — deserve transparency and accountability, not continued efforts to withhold information or shield those in positions of power. Under Todd Blanche’s leadership, the DOJ will continue putting President Trump’s personal and political interests ahead of justice and accountability for victims.
“Todd Blanche’s confirmation will only further erode public trust in one of our nation’s most important institutions. I will continue fighting to protect the independence of the DOJ and ensure that no one is above the law.”
U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján, Aug. 8, 2026
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New Mexico sues DOJ over Epstein Zorro ranch files
New Mexico is suing the Justice Department for access to unredacted files tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch investigation.
New Mexico investigators are not looking for one document that will suddenly solve the Jeffrey Epstein case at Zorro Ranch. Instead, they said each interview, record and lead could help determine whether enough evidence exists to bring criminal charges.
During a virtual news conference Wednesday, Aug. 05, Attorney General Raúl Torrez said investigators are continuing to examine whether crimes connected to Jeffrey Epstein occurred at Zorro Ranch while seeking access to thousands of unredacted federal records they believe could generate new leads.
Zorro Ranch is a property in Santa Fe County, south of Santa Fe, that was owned by Epstein for years and has been part of New Mexico’s investigation into allegations of criminal activity connected to him.
Epstein was a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender who was accused of sexually abusing and trafficking underage girls. Some women have alleged they were abused at Zorro Ranch, one of several properties Epstein owned across the country.
Why do investigators want the Epstein files?
Investigators believe the records can provide new leads in the case, even if they do not contain a single piece of decisive evidence.
Zorro Ranch appears more than 13,000 times in records connected to Epstein, but many of those pages remain heavily redacted, with names and other information removed.
Why did New Mexico sue the Justice Department?
The Attorney General’s Office filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia because the decision to release the records rests with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and the U.S. Department of Justice, Torrez said.
His office first followed the Justice Department’s direction by seeking the records elsewhere but believes officials sent the state to offices that did not have the documents. The lawsuit asks a federal judge to determine whether the department acted unlawfully by refusing to release the records and to decide what information, if any, should remain confidential, Torrez said.
What has the investigation accomplished so far?
Investigators have already executed a search warrant, identified survivors, corroborated information and developed new investigative leads. Torrez declined to provide additional details, said releasing more information could compromise the ongoing investigation.
Also the state reopened the investigation after records released by the federal government raised questions about whether federal authorities had fully pursued the case years earlier, Torrez said.
Who is cooperating?
Local agencies and property owners have cooperated with investigators, while the Justice Department remains the only entity that has not turned over the requested records, Torrez said.
How does the Truth Commission fit into the case?
The criminal investigation is separate from the work of New Mexico’s Truth Commission, which is reviewing institutional failures related to Epstein’s ties to the state.
Torrez said, his office complied with a subpoena from the commission and provided the requested information. However, the two investigations serve different purposes. While the commission’s work is intended to be public and examine how institutions responded, prosecutors are focused on determining whether enough evidence exists to seek an indictment and cannot publicly discuss witnesses, evidence or investigative techniques while the case remains active.
What happens next?
The Justice Department will have an opportunity to respond to the lawsuit before a federal judge decides whether additional hearings are needed and ultimately rules on the state’s request.
Regardless of how the lawsuit is resolved, investigators will continue pursuing evidence while the federal court considers whether the Justice Department must release the requested records, Torrez said.
Andrea Marvez is the public safety reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. Reach her by email at amarvezsarquis@gannett.com or by phone at 575-541-5406. For more local news follow her on Instagram at @andreamarvez and on Facebook at @AndreaMarvez.
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