France’s former culture minister Jack Lang announced Saturday he will submit his resignation as head of the Arab World Institute (IMA) in Paris at the next board meeting, after becoming the subject of a French investigation linked to documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case.
French financial crimes prosecutors confirmed a preliminary probe had been opened against Lang and his daughter for “laundering of aggravated tax-fraud proceeds.” French outlets including Le Monde, Le Figaro and Mediapart reported the inquiry followed the release of millions of files related to the late convicted US financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which revealed years of financial ties between Lang and Epstein.
In a letter to Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, the 86-year-old said, “I offer to submit my resignation” and wrote on social media that the allegations were baseless. Lang said he would prove his innocence “beyond the sound and fury of the media and digital courts” and that he welcomed the preliminary investigation “with serenity and even relief.”
The US Department of Justice’s release of about 3.5 million Epstein-related documents shows Lang’s name more than 670 times, making him the most high-profile French figure implicated in the files. Being mentioned in the documents does not itself indicate wrongdoing, but highlights the extent of Epstein’s connections with numerous public figures, some of whom have downplayed or denied ties.
Lang, who has chaired the IMA since 2013, is due to report on Sunday to the Foreign Ministry, which oversees the institute. The ministry provides roughly €12.3 million ($14.5 million) annually to the IMA, a significant share of its budget.
His daughter, film producer Caroline Lang, who also appears in the files, resigned on Monday as head of the Independent Production Union.
Edited by: Zac Crellin
