France’s former Culture Minister, Jack Lang, has stepped down as the head of a Paris cultural center due to alleged past financial ties to the infamous Jeffrey Epstein. The allegations against Lang led to a tax investigation into his connections, which ultimately prompted the former Culture Minister to resign from his current position.
As of this writing, Lang is the highest-profile figure in the nation of France to be personally impacted by the latest batch of Epstein files released on January 30, 2026, by the Justice Department. He is most well known for being the culture minister during Socialist President Francois Mitterrand during the 1980s and 1990s. Lang, who is 86-years-old, was summoned to make an appearance in front of the French Foreign Ministry, which oversees the Arab World Institute, however he tendered his resignation instead.
Lang’s attorney, Laurent Merlet, spoke with RTL radio on Sunday, saying that he was “very sad and deeply hurt to be leaving a position he loves.” Merlet then added, “He put the interests of the Arab World Institute first,” saying his client has denied the allegations against him and said they were “inaccurate.” The Foreign Ministry confirmed Lang’s resignation the previous evening.
According to a report from ABC News, the financial prosecutor’s office stated that it has now opened a probe into Lang, along with his daughter Caroline, over accusations of “aggravated tax fraud laundering.” Mediapart, a French investigative website, issued a report a week ago concerning alleged financial and business connections between the Langs and Jeffrey Epstein through an offshore company based in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Lang’s name was mentioned a staggering 600 times in the latest dump of Epstein files. Communications between the two men were intermittent from 2012 to 2019. His daughter was also mentioned in the files. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has already begun the search for Lang’s replacement. Lang was in charge of the Arab World Institute for over 12 years, with his tenure starting in 2013.
Maud Bregeon, a spokesperson for the French government, commented on the situation, saying it had become untenable and described the resignation as “the only possible decision,” placing emphasis on the moral aspect of the case, along with the judicial process. Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure shared similar sentiments, making the case that Lang was essentially required to tender his resignation in order to take responsibility for his actions and set an example while the courts worked to determine any potential legal consequences.
Former Prime Minister Michel Barnier issued a warning against the politically connected and powerful feeling as though they are above the law and shouldn’t have consequences for their actions. Barnier referred to such thinking as “unbearable,” according to RFI, saying that it ultimately drives populist anger among French citizens.
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Sandrine Rousseau, head of the Green Party in France, stated that Lang’s stepping down from his post was long overdue, while Sebastien Chenu, a member of the National Rally, commented that it was “about time” the former culture minister resigned, citing both Lang’s connections with the deceased Epstein, along with the investigation into his tax situation.
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