France, Epstein case: Elysée Palace takes note of Jack Lang's resignation
The former minister's resignation comes as new developments emerge from the 'Epstein files', with political and judicial repercussions in several countries
The Elysée Palace has 'noted the resignation' of Jack Lang from the presidency of the Institute of the Arab World amid developments related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. The decision follows the opening of a preliminary investigation by France's national financial prosecutor's office for laundering the proceeds of aggravated tax fraud allegedly involving Lang and his daughter Caroline, Agence France-Presse reported.
The affair is part of a more determined by the recent release of millions of documents related to Epstein by the US Department of Justice, required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act and culminated in a new tranche of over 3 million pages released at the end of January.
The so-called 'Epstein Files' comprise a mass of material - including emails, documents and images - that has generated a number of political and judicial consequences in several countries in recent days. In France, in addition to the Lang case, the authorities have reported the emergence of attempted disinformation campaigns linked to the dissemination of the files, including an operation attributed to groups linked to Russia that spread false news about President Emmanuel Macron's alleged involvement in the affair.
The opening of the US papers also triggered repercussions in other European countries: in the UK, former minister Peter Mandelson resigned from the House of Lords after his name appeared in the documents, while in Scandinavia public figures were forced to apologise or leave office.
In France, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister had already asked Lang for explanations about her relationship with Epstein before the public outburst of the case, and the growing political pressure had prompted Lang's daughter to resign from an association position.
