France Launches Investigation into Ex-Minister Jack Lang Amid Epstein Scandal

Sun Feb 08 2026 15:08:00 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Former French Culture Minister Jack Lang is under investigation for alleged financial misconduct linked to Jeffrey Epstein. Lang has denied any wrongdoing and announced his resignation as head of the Arab World Institute.

Jack Lang, who served as France's Culture Minister and is a prominent figure in the socialist government, is facing a preliminary inquiry over connections to Jeffrey Epstein. The investigation stems from a release of Epstein's files, revealing Lang's alleged involvement in tax fraud laundering. While Lang denies any wrongdoing and plans to resign from his position at the Arab World Institute, pressures continue to mount regarding his family's ties to Epstein’s network.

Financial crime prosecutors in France say they have opened a preliminary inquiry into former Culture Minister Jack Lang over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Lang, a major figure in French socialist governments between the 1980s and 2000s, is being investigated for suspected laundering of tax fraud proceeds.

This follows the US Department of Justice's release of the Epstein files, which have documented links between the Lang family and the late American sex offender.

Lang, now 86, denies wrongdoing and has described the allegations against him as baseless. He stated, the investigation will bring much light onto the accusations that are questioning my probity and my honour.

Hours after the investigation was announced, Lang offered to resign as head of the Arab World Institute, a body that promotes cooperation and exchanges between France and Arab nations. In a letter to Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Lang indicated he would submit his resignation at the next board meeting.

The former French minister, who is named almost 700 times in the Epstein files, had previously resisted pressure to step down. Barrot acknowledged the resignation offer and planned to start the process of seeking a successor.

Additionally, Lang's daughter Caroline is also under investigation. Earlier this week, she stepped down from her position as head of a French film producers' union.

Lang claims he was unaware of Epstein's criminal activities during their earlier acquaintance and described him as generous and courteous during their meetings.

Details from the released files indicate that Lang sought financial assistance from Epstein on multiple occasions, including accessing Epstein's private plane for personal use.

In a related comment, Caroline has expressed regret about her involvement with Epstein, acknowledging her naivety regarding his true intentions.

Despite being named in the documents, there is no indication that either Lang or his daughter participated in Epstein's illicit activities. This latest situation comes amid broader scrutiny of individuals previously connected to Epstein, as the files reveal numerous high-profile associations.