Former New Mexico AG Speaks Out on Epstein Flight Connection

Gary King and Deb Haaland were unaware the plane they took was linked to the sex offender.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Former New Mexico Attorney General Gary King is speaking out after it was revealed he took a plane chartered by sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2014 when he was running for governor. King said he and current New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland, who was also on the flight, were unaware of the plane's connection to Epstein.

Why it matters

The revelation that King and Haaland were on an Epstein-linked flight raises questions about the former attorney general's and current gubernatorial candidate's connections, even if inadvertent, to the disgraced financier and sex offender.

The details

King said his staff had told him that former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson had helped arrange the flight from Santa Fe to Washington, D.C. in 2014. Both King and Haaland, who was running for lieutenant governor at the time, claim they had no knowledge the plane was owned by Epstein.

  • The flight took place in 2014 when King was running for New Mexico governor and Haaland was running for lieutenant governor.
  • The flight invoice was only recently revealed to King earlier this week.

The players

Gary King

Former New Mexico Attorney General who is speaking out about taking a flight on a plane linked to Jeffrey Epstein in 2014.

Deb Haaland

Current New Mexico gubernatorial candidate who was also on the 2014 flight with Gary King.

Bill Richardson

Former New Mexico Governor who King says helped arrange the 2014 flight.

Jeffrey Epstein

Disgraced financier and sex offender who owned the plane that King and Haaland flew on in 2014.

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What’s next

The revelations about the Epstein-linked flight could potentially impact Haaland's gubernatorial campaign, and further scrutiny may be placed on King's and Richardson's connections to the disgraced financier.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for public officials to thoroughly vet any third-party transportation arrangements, even if they are unaware of potential connections to controversial figures like Jeffrey Epstein, in order to avoid any appearance of impropriety.