French Political Veteran Jack Lang Resigns Amid Epstein Probe and Tax Fraud Investigation
French political veteran Jack Lang has resigned from his position as president of the Arab World Institute (IMA) in Paris. This decision comes amid increasing scrutiny over his past connections to the disgraced American financier Jeffrey Epstein. The resignation follows the opening of a preliminary investigation by French financial prosecutors into Lang and his daughter, Caroline, on suspicions of "aggravated tax fraud laundering."
Investigation and Allegations
The investigation was initiated after the release of millions of documents from the US Department of Justice related to Jeffrey Epstein. Lang, who is 86 years old, has stated that he welcomes the investigation "with serenity" and has described the allegations as completely baseless. In a formal letter addressed to Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who oversees the IMA, Lang offered to step down at the institution's next board meeting.
The Arab World Institute is a prominent cultural organization dedicated to promoting dialogue and understanding between France and the Arab world. It receives substantial annual funding from the French state, highlighting its importance in cultural diplomacy.
Epstein Files Revelation
The controversy surrounding Lang intensified significantly after the "Epstein files" were made public. These documents revealed that Lang's name appeared more than 600 times in correspondence and various records spanning several years. According to reports from French media, Lang and Epstein exchanged messages intermittently between 2012 and 2019, the year Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Further reports suggest that Lang requested favors from Epstein, including the use of his personal car and private jet for family travel. Lang has consistently maintained that he was unaware of Epstein's criminal activities at the time of their association. He insists that he would have immediately severed all ties had he known about Epstein's past.
Caroline Lang's Resignation
Caroline Lang, a film producer and Jack Lang's daughter, has also stepped down from her role as head of France's Independent Production Union. Her resignation came after her own connections to Epstein were revealed in the document release. Both Jack and Caroline Lang have firmly denied any wrongdoing in relation to the allegations.
Who is Jack Lang?
Born on September 2, 1939, Jack Lang is a senior and highly respected figure in French politics. He has been a long-time member of the Socialist Party and served as France's Minister of Culture under President François Mitterrand from 1981 to 1986 and again from 1988 to 1993. Lang is widely credited with reshaping France's cultural landscape through various initiatives.
- He championed public access to the arts, making cultural experiences more accessible to all citizens.
- Lang introduced significant initiatives such as the Fête de la Musique, which has become a beloved annual music festival.
- He supported major architectural projects that have left a lasting impact on France's urban and cultural environment.
In addition to his cultural roles, Lang also served as Minister of National Education during the early 1990s and again between 2000 and 2002. Over the decades, he built a reputation as one of the most recognizable and influential faces in France's cultural and political establishment. However, this legacy is now being overshadowed by the ongoing investigation into his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and the related tax fraud allegations.
The resignation marks a significant moment in French cultural and political circles, as Lang's departure from the IMA raises questions about the future of the institution and the broader implications of the Epstein scandal on public figures in France.
