France’s former culture minister Jack Lang resigns over Epstein-linked tax probe

Former French culture minister Jack Lang has resigned as head of the Arab World Institute in Paris amid allegations of past financial links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein , which have triggered a tax investigation by French authorities.

Lang submitted his resignation after being summoned to appear at the French Foreign Ministry, which oversees the institute. The ministry confirmed his resignation on Saturday evening.

The French financial prosecutors’ office said it has opened an investigation into Lang and his daughter , Caroline Lang , on suspicion of “aggravated tax fraud laundering.”

The case follows reports by French investigative outlet Mediapart, which last week detailed alleged financial and business ties between the Lang family and Epstein through an offshore company registered in the US Virgin Islands. According to the report, Jack Lang’s name appears more than 600 times in documents released by the US Department of Justice on January 30 , showing intermittent correspondence between 2012 and 2019. His daughter’s name also appears in the files.

Epstein Files Released by the U.S. Department of Justice, the files detail Jeffrey Epstein’s financial dealings and global contacts . While inclusion doesn’t imply wrongdoing, they have triggered investigations into possible financial misconduct worldwide.

Lang, one of the most prominent figures in French cultural life, served as culture minister under Socialist President François Mitterrand during the 1980s and 1990s and has led the Arab World Institute since 2013.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said he had “taken note” of Lang’s resignation and has initiated the process to appoint a successor, the Foreign Ministry said.Lang is the highest-profile public figure in France to be affected so far by the release of the Epstein files.

To date, there is no public evidence of any monetary transfers from Epstein to either Jack or Caroline Lang. Based on these alleged financial links, French authorities have opened an investigation for “aggravated tax fraud laundering.”