French police conducted a search at the Arab World Institute in Paris on February 6, 2023, as part of an investigation into former French culture minister Jack Lang and his daughter Caroline Lang. This operation follows the discovery of Jack Lang’s name mentioned 673 times in correspondence linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, raising questions about alleged financial misconduct.
The probe, which is focused on the “laundering of aggravated tax fraud,” has led to multiple searches in connection with the Langs. The investigation was officially opened on February 6, according to the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office in France. Jack Lang, aged 86, stepped down from his position as president of the Arab World Institute a day after the investigation was made public.
The Arab World Institute, established to foster cultural dialogue between France and twenty-one Arab nations, has found itself under scrutiny due to its association with the Langs. Emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice indicate that Jack Lang solicited favors from Epstein, including the use of Epstein’s private vehicles and aircraft for personal or family use.
Caroline Lang is also connected to the financial investigation through her involvement with Prytanee LLC, a Virgin Islands-based company founded by Epstein in 2016. Reports indicate she held a 50% ownership stake in the firm, which reportedly had $1.4 million in its accounts and was purportedly set up to support young artists.
Despite her brief appointment as head of the Independent Production Union in January 2023, Caroline Lang resigned just three weeks later, citing her connection to Epstein as an “acquaintance.” She described herself as “incredibly naive” regarding the dealings with Epstein and claimed she received “no remuneration, or any benefit” from the fund associated with Prytanee LLC.
Furthermore, Caroline Lang was mentioned in a will signed by Epstein just two days prior to his death in August 2019, wherein he promised her $5 million. She asserts that she was unaware of this will and did not receive any funds from it.
Jack Lang, who served as France’s culture minister from 1981 to 1986 and again from 1988 to 1993, is a prominent figure credited with initiating France’s annual Fête de la Musique festival. He claims to have met Epstein through film director Woody Allen around 15 years ago and has categorically denied the allegations against him, labeling them as “unfounded.”
In response to the investigation, French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu instructed Lang to appear before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before his resignation from the institute. Following the establishment of the investigation, Paris prosecutors have formed a dedicated team to examine the Epstein files and collaborate with the financial prosecutor and national police.
The ongoing investigation reflects a broader scrutiny into the connections between Epstein and various high-profile individuals across different sectors, highlighting the complexities of financial dealings that may involve illicit activities. As the inquiry unfolds, the implications for both the Langs and the Arab World Institute remain significant, raising important questions about accountability and transparency in public institutions.
