PARIS — Jack Lang, the former French Culture Minister, has stepped down from his role as head of a prominent Paris cultural institution following allegations of historical financial connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which have led to a tax investigation.
Lang, a notable figure in France who served as culture minister during the presidency of Socialist François Mitterrand in the 1980s and 1990s, is the most high-profile individual in the country to be implicated since the U.S. Department of Justice released Epstein files on January 30.
At 86, Lang was called to the French Foreign Ministry, which supervises the Arab World Institute, on Sunday. However, he chose to tender his resignation beforehand.
His attorney, Laurent Merlet, conveyed Lang’s deep sadness and disappointment over leaving the position he cherished. Speaking on RTL radio, Merlet emphasized that Lang prioritized the interests of the Arab World Institute while vehemently denying the allegations, labeling them as incorrect.
The French Foreign Ministry confirmed his resignation on Saturday evening.
The office of the financial prosecutor has initiated an investigation into Lang and his daughter, Caroline, for possible “aggravated tax fraud laundering.”
French investigative news website Mediapart reported last week on alleged financial and business ties between the Lang family and Jeffrey Epstein through an offshore company based in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea.
Jack Lang’s name was mentioned more than 600 times in the Epstein files, showing intermittent correspondence between 2012 and 2019. His daughter was also in the released files.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has “taken note” of Lang’s resignation and began the process to look for his successor, the foreign ministry said.
Lang headed the Arab World Institute since 2013.
The video in the player above is from a previous report.
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