The Epstein scandal. The prosecutor's office in France has initiated proceedings against the former minister
The preliminary investigation concerns alleged tax fraud and money laundering. No further details were provided.
What concerns the investigation by the French Financial Prosecutor's Office?
How did Jack Lang react to the initiation of the investigation?
What accusations are made against Jack Lang and his daughter?
What does Jack Lang's lawyer say about the accusations?
Lang wrote on social media that he received the information about the initiation of the investigation with calm and relief. He assured that the accusations against him were baseless. The former minister's lawyer, Laurent Merlet, told BFMTV that he would prove that his client was not involved in any abuses. He emphasized that it is normal for supervisory authorities to demand explanations, not limiting themselves to media reports.
Merlet also argued that it cannot be said that Epstein's documents prove strong, friendly ties between the American and Lang.
The Epstein scandal. French minister's name in investigative documents
The former minister's name appears in the Epstein case documents released a week ago more than 600 times. There is no suggestion that Lang and his daughter were involved in the financier's criminal activities. The tone of the correspondence is friendly. After its publication, there were calls for the 86-year-old Lang, who currently heads the Arab World Institute in Paris, to step down from his position.
The investigative portal Mediapart reported, based on leaked documents, that in 2016, Caroline Lang, together with Epstein, founded a company in one of the tax havens that purchased works of art. The minister's daughter assured that she did not receive any remuneration from this company. However, after the publication, she resigned from the leadership of the Association of Independent Producers (SPI), emphasizing that she did not want the current situation to harm this organization.
Chaos after the publication of Epstein's files. The action of removing documents causes a storm. “They take away the signpost and think the goal no longer exists.”
The Langs argued that they were naive towards Epstein and could not have suspected that he was a criminal.
Jack Lang is to give explanations on Sunday to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to which the Arab World Institute reports. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said he reserved all options regarding the former minister's term at the head of this institution.
