Raids Target Director of the Arab World Institute in Paris Over Epstein Case

Middle East News Network: French authorities are conducting raids at the Arab World Institute as part of an investigation targeting its resigned director, Jacques Lang, over his alleged connection to Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of sexual crimes, particularly against minors.
The French National Financial Prosecutor’s Office announced the opening of an investigation into Jacques Lang and his daughter, Caroline, on charges of “aggravated tax fraud laundering.”
No charges have been filed against Lang at this stage. However, his name appeared 673 times in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice related to the Epstein case.
He faced increasing pressure that led him to resign from the presidency of the Arab World Institute.
The raids were carried out while Lang was bidding farewell to the institute’s staff.
In his address to employees, he said, “I am pleased to see the French judiciary begin its work,” without explicitly referring to the raids, according to Agence France-Presse, citing its correspondent who attended the event.
An investigation published by the Mediapart website on February 2 revealed that Caroline Lang established an offshore company with Epstein in 2016, headquartered in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Following the disclosure of this information, she resigned from her position as head of the Independent Film Producers’ Union.
Lang, who is known for launching the “Fête de la Musique,” which later spread worldwide, has asserted that the accusations against him are “baseless.”
Source: Agence France-Presse