The French Financial Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into former culture minister Jack Lang and his daughter Caroline Lang, focusing on allegations of aggravated tax fraud laundering. This inquiry follows the release of documents linked to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which have placed Lang under increasing scrutiny.
The investigation was confirmed on February 7, 2024, after files released by the U.S. Department of Justice on January 30 revealed that Lang and Epstein had communicated intermittently from 2012 to 2019, the year Epstein died by suicide in a U.S. jail. Notable French media outlets, including Le Monde, Le Figaro, and Mediapart, reported that the preliminary investigation was initiated due to the correspondence and financial connections between Lang and Epstein.
As the pressure mounts, Lang faces calls to resign from his position as president of the Arab World Institute in Paris, a cultural and research organization dedicated to fostering understanding of the Arab world. He has been summoned to report to the Foreign Ministry, which oversees the institute.
In response to the investigation, Lang expressed his willingness to cooperate, stating on X that he welcomes the scrutiny with “serenity and even relief.” He emphasized his intent to clear his name, asserting, “The accusations levelled against me are baseless, and I will demonstrate this, beyond the sound and fury of the media and digital courts.”
According to a review by Reuters, Lang’s name appears over 600 times in the Epstein files, intensifying the focus on his relationship with the financier. In a related development, Caroline Lang, a prominent media executive, resigned from her post as head of France’s Independent Production Union following the emergence of her connections to Epstein.
Lang’s lawyer, Laurent Merlet, defended his client’s integrity, stating to BFM TV that they expect to “prove that he is not involved in any malpractice or criminal offence.” He also noted, “There has been no movement of funds… But I think it is normal for justice to want to verify this.”
The release of Epstein’s files has sparked renewed interest in his global network, which includes various public figures, such as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles, and Peter Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the United States. The implications of these findings continue to reverberate, highlighting the far-reaching connections of Epstein’s life and actions.
As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact both Jack Lang’s political career and the broader discourse surrounding accountability for public figures.
