French former minster Jack Lang summoned to explain Epstein links
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- France summons former Culture Minister Jacques Lang over ties to convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein.
- No criminal charges have been filed; inquiry focuses on clarifying the nature of Lang’s relationship with Epstein.
The French Foreign Ministry summoned Jacques Lang, former Culture Minister and current head of the Arab World Institute in Paris, for questioning regarding his relationship with the late US financier Jeffrey Epstein, convicted of sexual crimes.
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A source close to the French presidency told Agence France-Presse on Thursday that the move was made at the formal request of President Emmanuel Macron and the Prime Minister, who instructed the Foreign Ministry to seek full clarification from Lang. A ministry spokesperson confirmed the summons but declined to provide further details on the questions asked or the nature of the meeting.
Family and institutional pressures
The summons comes at a sensitive time for Lang, 86, who has not yet publicly commented on the matter. Earlier this week, his daughter, Caroline Lang, resigned from her post as head of the French Film Producers’ Association following revelations linking the family to Epstein. Despite this, Lang reaffirmed on Wednesday that he has no intention of stepping down from his role at the Arab World Institute, a position he has held since 2013, responding firmly to questions: “No, not for a moment”.
Read more: Epstein allegedly asked Gates how “to get rid of poor people”: DOJ file
Sources close to the Élysée Palace indicate that the presidency is exerting subtle institutional pressure on Lang, emphasizing the need to protect the institute’s reputation from association with the international controversy.
Legal context
Legally, the situation remains an inquiry; no criminal charges have been filed against the Lang family. The appearance of their names among millions of documents related to Epstein released by the US Department of Justice does not constitute proof of wrongdoing, but illustrates the extensive scrutiny applied to all individuals mentioned in the complex case.
