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Former French culture minister Jack Lang has been summoned by France’s foreign ministry for a meeting on Sunday and is the subject of a preliminary financial crimes investigation connected to documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files, as pressure intensifies on him to step down from his current post leading a major cultural institution.
The developments represent a significant escalation in the fallout from the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent release of millions of pages of materials tied to Epstein, a convicted U.S. sex offender who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting federal trafficking charges. Lang, 86, who has served as president of the Arab World Institute (Institut du Monde Arabe, IMA) since 2013, now confronts mounting scrutiny over his past ties to Epstein, even as he and his family deny any criminal wrongdoing.
On Friday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed that Lang has been ordered to appear before officials at the Quai d’Orsay, the foreign ministry, on Sunday for discussions related to his connections with Epstein. Barrot said the emerging details from the files are “new and extremely serious” and require careful review.
The summons comes as pressure rises for Lang to resign as the head of the IMA — a prominent cultural and research institution in Paris that promotes understanding of the Arab world and receives about €12.3 million ($14.5 million) annually from the foreign ministry, accounting for roughly half of its budget. Barrot emphasized his priority is to ensure the institute’s operations continue properly but did not rule out potential consequences for Lang.
At the same time, France’s financial crimes prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation into Lang and his daughter, Caroline Lang, a film producer, on suspicion of “laundering of aggravated tax-fraud proceeds” linked to their reported financial connections with Epstein. The probe signals that authorities are preparing to look beyond political controversy into possible legal violations.
Lang, a veteran Socialist politician who also served as education minister and culture minister in past French governments, was thrust into the spotlight by the recent tranche of Epstein-related documents released by U.S. authorities. The materials reportedly detail thousands of communications and interactions between Epstein and powerful global figures, including multiple mentions of Lang’s name.
Reuters reported that Lang’s name appears more than 600 times in the Epstein files, including emails exchanged intermittently between him and the disgraced financier from 2012 through Epstein’s death in 2019. One such message, from April 7, 2017, shows Lang thanking Epstein for a “splendid time” the previous day, nearly a decade after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Read Also: Epstein Files Taken Down After Victims’ Identity Compromise
However, being named in the files does not imply wrongdoing, and Lang has vigorously defended himself against accusations of improper conduct. Speaking on French radio earlier this week, he said, “I fear nothing, and I am clean as a whistle.”
Lang has repeatedly denied any meaningful connection to Epstein’s criminal activities, saying he was introduced to the financier around 2012 by U.S. filmmaker Woody Allen and believed Epstein was simply “passionate about art, culture, and cinema.” He has maintained that he was unaware of Epstein’s 2008 conviction until after their initial encounter.
His daughter Caroline Lang resigned earlier this week as head of the Independent Production Union after her name surfaced in connections with an offshore company reportedly co-owned with Epstein. Caroline has also denied wrongdoing, telling French media she only discovered Epstein’s conviction after he encouraged her to research it online.
Still, the revelations have triggered political backlash and intensified calls for accountability.
Pressure is mounting across the French political spectrum. Even members of Lang’s own Socialist Party have urged him to consider stepping down to protect the reputation of the institution he leads. Socialist leader Olivier Faure said Lang should “think about resigning to protect the institution he presides over,” and sources close to President Emmanuel Macron have echoed concerns that Lang should “think about the institution” amid the controversy.
Ahead of the foreign ministry meeting, Lang had previously resisted calls to quit, telling reporters that he would not step aside and pledging to clarify his position. But with the added pressure of an official probe and the potential legal scrutiny, his leadership of the IMA appears increasingly untenable.
Lang is not the only European figure whose reputation has been affected by the release of the Epstein documents. The files have revealed connections — ranging from meetings to communications — between Epstein and political figures, royalty, and cultural elites around the world, prompting inquiries and political consequences in several countries.
For example, other high-profile individuals named in the files include Britain’s Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and former U.K. political figures; some have faced legal actions, resignations, or intense public scrutiny. These revelations have also prompted separate inquiries, such as a possible review in Norway into ties involving that country’s foreign ministry.
Read Also: UK’s Former Prince Andrew Engulfed Again By Epstein Scandal
The preliminary investigation into the Langs on suspicion of money laundering or aggravated tax fraud does not constitute formal charges. Under French law, preliminary inquiries are used to collect evidence and determine whether there is sufficient basis to proceed with official charges. Legal experts say such probes can take months and may result in multiple outcomes, including closure due to lack of evidence or elevation to formal prosecution if warranted.
In the case of Lang and his daughter, investigators are reportedly examining financial records and offshore company documents linked to Epstein and the Lang family’s reported interactions, but authorities have not disclosed details of any specific transactions or allegations.
The controversy places the Arab World Institute, a major Paris-based cultural hub, at the center of a reputational crisis. Founded in 1980, the IMA promotes cross-cultural exchange between France and the Arab world, hosting exhibitions, conferences, and educational programs. Its prominent board of directors includes top diplomats from Arab states and representatives appointed by the French government.
As Lang prepares to meet with the foreign ministry on Sunday, the spotlight will be on how he navigates the demands for accountability. Whether the meeting leads to his resignation, further clarification, or a negotiated compromise remains uncertain.
