Former French minister Lang resigns from Arab World Institute amid Epstein-linked probe

• Former French culture minister Jack Lang resigned as president of the Arab World Institute following revelations of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
• The French Financial Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation into Lang and his daughter Caroline on suspicion of aggravated tax fraud laundering.

Former French culture minister Jack Lang has resigned as president of the Arab World Institute in Paris following revelations of his past contacts with late US financier Jeffrey Epstein and the launch of a financial investigation, the French Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Saturday.

French financial prosecutors announced they have opened a preliminary probe into Lang and his daughter, Caroline Lang, on suspicion of “aggravated tax fraud laundering”, a move tied to documents released by the US Department of Justice. Those files show intermittent correspondence and potential financial links between Lang and Epstein from 2012 until Epstein’s death in prison in 2019.

Pressure mounts amid widespread scrutiny

Lang’s name reportedly appears more than 600 times in the Epstein files, triggering intense public and political pressure for him to step down from the Arab World Institute, a cultural and research institution that promotes understanding of the Arab world.

On Saturday, Lang submitted his resignation from the institute, which he led since 2013, amid growing calls from political figures and media outlets across France. The Foreign Ministry, which oversees the institute, confirmed the resignation and said it would begin proceedings to appoint an interim president.

Earlier in the week, Lang had been summoned to the Foreign Ministry to answer questions about his ties to Epstein, a summon that came amid mounting criticism from within his Socialist Party and beyond.

Lang denies wrongdoing

Lang has denied any illegal conduct, saying the allegations are baseless and that he welcomed the investigation as a means to clear his name. In statements to French media, he said the probe would “shed light” on accusations affecting his reputation and honour. His lawyer reiterated that no movement of funds has been established and described the justice review as normal given the circumstances.

Family ties under scrutiny

Caroline Lang, a long-time media executive whose name also appeared in the files, resigned earlier this week as head of France’s Independent Production Union. She has similarly denied any involvement in wrongdoing.

Global fallout from Epstein files

The investigation into Jack Lang underscores the broader international fallout from the US release of the Epstein documents, which have prompted scrutiny of public figures worldwide and intensified debates about connections between elites and the disgraced financier.