French police raided the Arab World Institute in Paris on Monday as part of a probe into Jack Lang, the former French culture minister, and his daughter Caroline — after Lang’s name appeared hundreds of times in the Epstein files.
The investigation into “laundering of aggravated tax fraud” against the Langs was opened on Feb. 6, and multiple locations have been searched in compliance with the probe, according to France’s National Financial Prosecutor. Lang, 86, resigned on Feb. 7 from the presidency of the Arab World Institute — which he had led since 2013 — after his name appeared 673 times in correspondence with Epstein between 2012 and 2019, according to emails released by the Department of Justice.
Lang had requested favors from Epstein including use of his vehicle or private plane for himself or family members, Radio France Internationale reported. Caroline Lang also appeared in the statute of a Virgin Islands-based company, Prytanee LLC, which Epstein founded in 2016.
The Arab World Institute describes itself as a “symbol of the partnership between France and twenty-one Arab countries,” according to its website. The institute “generates a dialogue between cultures that have been in frequent contacts for centuries and this partnership work together there, on a day-to-day basis, to rebuild their common past.”
The preliminary investigation is focused on Prytanee LLC in the U.S. Virgin Islands of which Caroline Lang owned a 50% stake, Euronews reported. The company held $1.4 million in its accounts and was presented as a fund to support young artists.
The younger Lang, a film producer, was appointed to head up the Independent Production Union in January but resigned from her position just three weeks later, according to Euronews. She described Epstein as an “acquaintance” and claimed to have been “incredibly naive” while receiving “no renumeration, or any benefit” from the fund, the outlet reported.
Caroline Lang also appeared in a will signed by Epstein two days ahead of his death in 2019 where he promised her $5 million, according to Euronews. She claims she was unaware of the will and never received the funds.
Jack Lang served as France’s culture minister from 1981 to 1986 and again from 1988 to 1993. He is also credited with launching France’s annual Fête de la Musique festival. Lang claims he met Epstein through film director Woody Allen roughly 15 years ago, according to Euronews. He described the accusations against him as “unfounded.”
French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu directed Lang to appear before the Foreign Affairs Ministry ahead of his resignation from the institution, Euronews reported.
Paris prosecutors on Saturday set up a team to scour the files and coordinate with the financial prosecutor and national police, according to The Guardian. The office has said it is analyzing multiple potential cases within the Epstein files.
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