UNMH quietly separates itself from Bill Richardson amid alleged connections with Epstein 

The University of New Mexico Hospital has quietly removed former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson's name from one of its buildings amid allegations that he and Jeffrey Epstein kept in close contact years after the financier was convicted of sex crimes. 

However, according to UNMH officials, his ties to Epstein had nothing to do with the removal of Richardson and his wife Barbara's names from the hospital signage and website.

"When UNM Hospital opened the Critical Care Tower in 2025, it provided an opportunity to update and standardize exterior signage across the campus," said UNM Hospital spokesperson Chris Ramirez. 

He added, "To improve wayfinding for patients and families, several changes were made, including renaming the building formerly known as the 'Barbara and Bill Richardson Pavilion.'"

Ramirez said the three buildings that make up the Albuquerque hospital campus are now identified as the “Main” building, which is the oldest, the “Pavilion,” which opened in 2008, and the “Critical Care Tower."

When asked why UNMH removed the mention of the Richardsons from its website, Ramirez said the university was "in the process of updating websites, interior signage, internal communications, patient-facing communications, etc." to align with the new naming convention.

In early January, a petition posted online called for the removal of the names of the Richardsons from the UNM Children's Hospital Pavilion. The petition, which only received 22 signatures as of Wednesday, said that the hospital dedicated to children's health should not be associated with their names. 

"Maintaining the Richardsons' names on a children's hospital pavilion sends a dissonant message in a state where minor victims battle for recognition and justice," the petition states. "By removing these names, UNM would affirm support for survivors, deter enablers, and align with the anti-trafficking struggle, creating a more compassionate New Mexico."

In 2016, the late Virginia Giuffre testified that Epstein sent her to have sex with Richardson when she was a minor, with the directions to give him a "massage." She said she had been to New Mexico but did not remember where or when the incident happened.

Richardson, in a Bloomberg interview, said that he had never met Giuffre and all allegations against him were untrue. He added that he had never seen Epstein with underage girls. In 2019, a spokesperson for Richardson said the former governor had only visited Epstein's ranch once, in 2012.

But files released this year by the U.S. Department of Justice showed that Richardson arranged to meet with Epstein numerous times both before and after Epstein's 2008 conviction in Florida on sex charges. In emails dated as early as 2011, assistants of Epstein and Richardson emailed back and forth to coordinate phone calls and meetings. 

Richardson, who died in 2023 at the age of 75, was friends with Epstein for several years before Epstein first faced criminal allegations in 2006. Richardson publicly distanced himself from Epstein sometime later. 

A search of the Epstein files shows Richardson was mentioned over 800 times, often in emails where he and Epstein coordinate dinners or phone calls. When he was not the recipient of emails, his name would be the subject line of correspondence. 

"FYI — I will let the governor know we will be in touch on this (unless you had an answer for me)," states one email between Epstein and a person whose name is redacted.

In July 2011, a woman named Lesley Groff, who appears to be an assistant to Epstein, emailed and stated that she left a message to let Richardson know Epstein would be at Zorro Ranch, a sprawling property located southeast of Santa Fe. This week, the New Mexico State Land Commissioner called on federal and state law enforcement to investigate a report that the bodies of two girls were buried on the property. 

Other emails in the Epstein files detailed phone calls between the pair in 2012, multiple mentions of Epstein's ranch with the request for Richardson to join him for dinner or for meetings, and emails confirming Richardson's appearance at Epstein's townhouse in Manhattan. 

In March 2015, Richardson requested one of his public information officers email Epstein to simply say hello.

"...He just wanted to see how Jeffrey is doing and that he wishes him well," the email states. "No need for a call. Just a friendly email to say hi."

Epstein's assistant responded, "How nice! I will let Jeffrey know!" 

The messages continued for years, with one email in March 2018 sent to remind Epstein that Richardson would be in New York on March 27 and March 28. 

Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.