French financial crime prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation into former Culture Minister Jack Lang over his alleged financial links to Jeffrey Epstein, judicial sources confirmed.
The inquiry focuses on suspicions of “laundering the proceeds of tax fraud”. It follows the recent release of documents by the US Department of Justice related to the Epstein case, which detail contacts between members of the Lang family and the late American financier.
Jack Lang, 86, a prominent figure in Socialist governments from the 1980s to the early 2000s, has firmly denied any wrongdoing. Speaking to AFP on Saturday, he described the accusations as “baseless” and said the investigation would help “clarify the facts and restore my honour”.
Shortly after news of the inquiry became public, Lang announced that he was ready to step down as president of the Arab World Institute, an organisation dedicated to cultural cooperation between France and Arab countries. In a letter sent to Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, he said he would formally submit his resignation at the institute’s next board meeting.
The foreign minister acknowledged the offer and indicated that preparations to appoint a successor would begin. Until now, Lang had resisted calls to resign despite mounting pressure.
Lang’s daughter, Caroline Lang, 64, is also named in the investigation. Earlier this week, she resigned from her position as head of a French film producers’ union. Both she and her father are mentioned multiple times in the Epstein files, although the documents do not suggest their involvement in Epstein’s sexual crimes.
Jack Lang has said he met Epstein around 15 years ago and was unaware at the time of his criminal background. Epstein was convicted in 2008 in the United States for soliciting a minor and died in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
According to Lang, he was introduced to Epstein by film director Woody Allen and initially saw him as a supporter of art and culture. Media reports based on the files suggest Lang may have sought financial support or logistical assistance from Epstein, including the use of private transport.
Caroline Lang told French investigative outlet Mediapart that she met Epstein in 2012, when he expressed interest in supporting young artists. She acknowledged being linked to a company created by Epstein’s lawyers but said she neither invested money nor received funds, describing her role as “naive”.
The latest batch of Epstein-related documents names numerous influential figures worldwide. Legal experts stress that appearing in the files does not, in itself, imply illegal activity.
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