NAIROBI, Kenya- French financial crime prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation into former Culture Minister Jack Lang over alleged links to disgraced US financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following the release of millions of documents by the US Department of Justice.
Lang, 86, a towering figure in France’s socialist governments from the 1980s through the early 2000s, is being investigated for suspected laundering of tax fraud proceeds, according to French authorities.
The inquiry comes after the latest batch of Epstein files revealed extensive references to the Lang family, renewing scrutiny over past interactions with the late financier.
Lang Denies Wrongdoing, Welcomes Investigation
Lang has firmly denied any wrongdoing, describing the allegations as “baseless” and insisting the probe would ultimately clear his name.
“This investigation will bring much light on to the accusations that are questioning my probity and my honour,” Lang told AFP on Saturday.
Despite maintaining his innocence, Lang moved swiftly to contain the fallout. Hours after the inquiry was announced, he offered to resign as head of the Arab World Institute, a Paris-based organisation that promotes cultural and diplomatic ties between France and Arab nations.
In a letter addressed to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Lang said he would formally submit his resignation at the institute’s next board meeting. Barrot later confirmed he had accepted the offer and would begin the process of identifying a successor.
Family Ties Under Scrutiny
Lang’s daughter, Caroline Lang, 64, is also under investigation. Earlier this week, she stepped down as head of a French film producers’ union, saying she did not want the controversy to damage the organisation.
French media reports say Jack Lang is mentioned nearly 700 times in the Epstein files, though the documents do not accuse him or his daughter of involvement in Epstein’s sexual crimes.
Lang has said he met Epstein around 15 years ago and was unaware of his criminal conduct at the time. Epstein was convicted in Florida in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution and later died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
According to Lang, he was introduced to Epstein by US actor-director Woody Allen, describing the financier as someone who appeared “passionate about art, culture and cinema.”
“When I meet people, I don’t ask to see their criminal record,” Lang told RTL radio in a separate interview.
Financial Links Raise Fresh Questions
Details emerging from French media suggest Lang may have appealed to Epstein for logistical and financial favours, including access to private transport for himself and family members.
Caroline Lang told investigative outlet Mediapart that she met Epstein in 2012, when he expressed interest in supporting young artists. She said Epstein’s lawyers later set up a company, Prytanee LLC, in the US Virgin Islands.
While Mediapart reports that Caroline Lang received half of the company’s shares, she maintains she neither invested money nor received funds from the firm, saying she only contributed her professional expertise and had been “incredibly naive.”
Epstein Files Continue to Rock Global Elites
The Epstein files — running into millions of pages — include references to numerous powerful figures worldwide. Authorities have repeatedly stressed that being named does not imply guilt.
For Jack Lang, however, the investigation marks a dramatic fall from grace for one of France’s most influential cultural figures, even as prosecutors emphasise the inquiry remains at a preliminary stage.
