France opens probe against ex-Culture Minister Lang after Epstein file dump

The French Financial Prosecutor’s Office ‍said on Saturday (February 7, 2026) it had opened an investigation into former Culture Minister Jack Lang and his daughter Caroline on suspicion of ‘aggravated ‌tax fraud laundering’, a move that follows the ​release of files linked to late convicted U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Pressure is rising on Mr. Lang to resign as president of the Arab World Institute in Paris since files released on January 30 by the U.S. Department of Justice showed Epstein and Mr. Lang corresponding intermittently between 2012 and 2019, when ​the financier died by suicide in jail.

French media, including Le ⁠Monde, Le Figaro and Mediapart, said the preliminary investigation had been opened after the U.S. documents revealed years of correspondence and financial links between Mr. Lang and ​Epstein.

The office confirmed the ⁠investigation but did not provide further details.

Jack Lang has been summoned to report on Sunday (February 8, 2026) to the Foreign Ministry, which supervises the Arab World Institute, a cultural and research institution ‌that promotes understanding of the Arab world.

Mr. Lang said on X ‌that he welcomed the investigation “with serenity and even relief”.

“It will allow all the light to be ‍shed on accusations attacking my integrity and my honour,” he added.

“The accusations levelled against me are baseless, and I will demonstrate this, ‍beyond the sound and fury of the media and digital courts.”

Mr. Lang’s name appears more than 600 times in the Epstein files, according to a Reuters review of them. On Monday (February 2, 2026), Caroline Lang, a long-time media executive, resigned as head of France’s Independent Production Union after her own links to Epstein surfaced.

Jack Lang’s lawyer told BFM TV that he would “prove that he is not involved ⁠in any malpractice or criminal offence”.

“There has been no movement of funds… But I think it ​is normal for the justice to want to verify this,” Laurent ⁠Merlet said.

The file dump has heightened scrutiny of Epstein’s global connections with public figures, including Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — the younger brother of King Charles — Peter Mandelson, the former U.K. ambassador to the United States and Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit.