Jack Lang Steps Down as Head of Arab World Institute, Refutes Any Misconduct Amid Epstein Files Connection
Jack Lang, a prominent figure in French politics and culture, resigned as president of the Arab World Institute in Paris on Saturday amid intensifying scrutiny following his connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Lang, a former Minister of Culture, and his daughter, Caroline Lang, were identified in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice on January 30. The documents detail associations with the convicted sex offender and include hundreds of other influential individuals.
It is important to note that the presence of their names in these documents does not imply involvement in or awareness of Epstein’s criminal activities, and both have vigorously denied any wrongdoing.
Jack Lang served as France’s Minister of Culture from 1981 to 1986 and again from 1988 to 1993 under President François Mitterrand. He is often regarded as a symbol of the socialist movement initiated by Mitterrand’s election, which ended over twenty years of conservative governance. His efforts to broaden cultural access are perhaps best exemplified by his establishment of the annual Fête de la Musique in June.
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On Friday, it was confirmed that Lang had been summoned to the French Foreign Ministry for a meeting requested by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sébastian Lecornu. Speculation suggested that a formal request for his resignation would be made, leading Lang to preemptively step down. In statements to AFP, he characterized the accusations against him as “baseless” and expressed confidence that an investigation would clarify his lack of wrongdoing.
A lawyer representing Jack and Caroline Lang spoke to French news channel BFMTV, indicating expectations that the inquiry would ultimately vindicate his clients. “The justice system has asked them to prove that they did not receive any funds from this company,” the lawyer noted, adding, “They have stated that is the case, and I hope that the prosecutor’s office will act very quickly to confirm that what Mr. Lang and his daughter have said is the absolute truth.”
In his resignation letter, Lang reiterated his denial of the allegations and stated that his decision to step down was motivated by a desire to protect the integrity of the Arab World Institute. He described the prevailing atmosphere of personal attacks and baseless accusations as “toxic” and deeply troubling, asserting that such negativity could harm the institution he held in high regard.
