France’s Epstein probe uncovers new potential recruiters

French authorities investigating alleged human trafficking linked to US financier Jeffrey Epstein have identified several new leads involving potential recruiters, Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said.

Beccuau spoke following the death in July of French modeling scout Daniel Siad, who was accused of helping Epstein traffic women and died at his home before he could be questioned by investigators.

“We have obtained other names of potential recruiters,” she told France Inter radio. “For us, the Epstein network is a labyrinthine network. To get out of it, it's not just a single Ariadne's thread you have to pull on, it's dozens and dozens of threads.”

The investigation has so far extended to New York and locations in France, including Saint-Tropez and Cannes, she said.

France launched its human trafficking investigation after the US Justice Department released a new cache of documents in January related to the disgraced financier, who died in prison in 2019 while facing charges of trafficking underage girls for sex.

Beccuau said French investigators have identified 26 victims, including eight who have yet to be questioned because they live abroad. Of the 26, 13 had not previously appeared in any case related to Epstein, she said.

French authorities have also investigated other figures in the modeling industry. An earlier investigation into sexual assault and rape allegations against Gérald Marie, the former European head of Elite Model Management, was dropped after prosecutors determined that the alleged offenses were beyond the statute of limitations.

Several women have since called for renewed investigations into Marie following the release of the latest Epstein files. Marie denied wrongdoing.

French police arrested modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel in 2020 following allegations that he had procured women for Epstein. Brunel was found dead in prison in 2022.

By Vafa Guliyeva