DR ‹ › The president of the Arab World Institute (IMA), Jack Lang, has been called to the Quai d'Orsay on Sunday, February 8, by Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, following a directive from Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. Lang is expected to address his personal and financial connections with Jeffrey Epstein, as both he and his daughter Caroline are currently under investigation by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office for "aggravated tax fraud laundering," according to a report by Le Monde on Friday, February 6. This summons, announced by the Elysée and Matignon on Thursday evening, comes amid intense public scrutiny following revelations about Lang's close ties with the disgraced American financier, who died in jail in 2019. The government is urging Lang to "consider the institution" he has led since 2013, to ensure "its proper functioning, continuity, and integrity," said Jean-Noël Barrot from Beirut. The investigation centers on American judicial documents released on January 30, which the French foreign minister described as "unprecedented and extremely serious." These documents mention Jack Lang several times, highlighting exchanges and benefits provided by Jeffrey Epstein after his 2008 conviction for child sex offenses. Lang maintains he is "as pure as the driven snow," insisting that these benefits did not involve any quid pro quo. While Lang has ruled out resigning, his daughter Caroline has already stepped down from her leadership role at the Independent Production Union earlier this month. Although Lang's term at the IMA officially extends until December 2026, his position is increasingly uncertain, as the French government is considering all options.
