French Prosecutors Open Probe Into Ex-Minister Jack Lang Over Alleged Epstein Links

The French National Financial Prosecutor’s Office on Saturday confirmed it has opened a preliminary investigation into former Culture Minister Jack Lang and his daughter, Caroline Lang, on suspicion of “aggravated tax fraud laundering,” following revelations linked to late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The investigation comes after documents released last week by the United States Department of Justice revealed years of correspondence and alleged financial links between Lang and Epstein, including offshore connections. French media outlets such as Le Monde, Le Figaro, and Mediapart reported that the probe was initiated after the disclosures.

Prosecutors confirmed the inquiry but declined to provide further details.

Pressure has mounted on Lang to step down as president of the Arab World Institute in Paris, a cultural and research institution overseen by the French foreign affairs ministry. The ministry has since summoned Lang in his capacity as head of the institute.

According to a Reuters review, Lang’s name appears more than 600 times in the Epstein files, with records showing intermittent correspondence between 2012 and Epstein’s death in a New York jail in 2019.

On Monday, Caroline Lang resigned as head of France’s Independent Production Union after her own links to Epstein emerged.

Lang has denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer, Laurent Merlet, told BFM TV that his client would “make his decision in good conscience” regarding calls for his resignation.

“Jack Lang finds the presentation of the facts very unfair, but he is a fighter and will provide both his supervisory authority and the courts with all necessary explanations to prove that he is not involved in any malpractice or criminal offense,” Merlet said.

The lawyer added that no illegal transfer of funds had taken place, but acknowledged that judicial verification was appropriate. He expressed hope that prosecutors would conduct the investigation swiftly.

The latest document release has intensified global scrutiny of Epstein’s network of high-profile associates, which includes prominent figures such as Britain’s Prince Andrew and former UK ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson.