Former French culture minister Jack Lang has dismissed allegations linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein as “baseless,” as French authorities open a preliminary investigation into financial dealings connected to his name.
Lang, who served as culture minister under President François Mitterrand and later held several senior public roles, said he was facing the accusations with “calm and determination.” Speaking to the media, the 86-year-old denied any wrongdoing and said the claims emerging from recently released Epstein-related documents were misleading and damaging to his reputation.
The controversy follows the publication of U.S. court files containing correspondence and records tied to Epstein. Lang’s name appears multiple times in the documents, prompting renewed scrutiny of individuals who had contact with the disgraced financier. French prosecutors have since launched a preliminary inquiry focusing on suspected aggravated tax-fraud laundering, including possible financial links involving Lang and his daughter. Authorities stressed that the investigation does not imply guilt and is a standard legal step.
Lang has strongly rejected any suggestion of illegal activity. He has also emphasized that neither he nor his daughter has been accused of sexual offences, and that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal actions at the time of their interactions.
Amid mounting pressure, Lang offered his resignation as president of the Arab World Institute in Paris, a cultural organization he has led since 2013. He said the move was intended to protect the institution from becoming embroiled in controversy while the investigation proceeds.
The case has reignited debate in France over accountability and transparency, particularly as public figures named in Epstein-related files face renewed public attention. Legal experts caution that appearing in documents does not automatically imply misconduct.
As the inquiry continues, Lang maintains that the allegations will ultimately be disproved, insisting that the claims lack substance and that the judicial process will clarify the situation.
