Media: French ex-culture minister mentioned hundreds of times in Epstein files

France’s National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) has opened a preliminary investigation into former Culture Minister Jack Lang and his daughter, Caroline Lang, on suspicion of aggravated tax fraud laundering, according to Le Figaro.

The investigation follows revelations linking both Jack and Caroline Lang to the late US financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Their names reportedly appear more than 673 times in files connected to Epstein. Caroline Lang is said to be named in a financial will drafted by Epstein two days before his death, which allegedly designated her as a beneficiary of $5 million.

She is also reported to have co-founded an offshore company in the British Virgin Islands in 2016 with Epstein, which was owned jointly with her father. In the wake of these disclosures, highlighted in particular by investigative outlet Mediapart, Caroline Lang resigned on February 2 from her position as head of a film producers’ union.

Jack Lang has acknowledged having past ties with Epstein and said he took full responsibility for those connections.

He has also stated that he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal activities, explaining that he met him approximately fifteen years ago through film director Woody Allen. The 86-year-old former minister is expected to clarify the nature of his relationship with Epstein on February 8 before France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the principal public funder of the Arab World Institute (IMA), which Lang has chaired since 2013.

By Sabina Mammadli