French politician Jack Lang resigned as director of the Arab
World Institute amid a growing controversy surrounding alleged financial ties
to the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The controversy arose after public accusations pointed to
possible financial relationships between Lang and Epstein, who was widely
accused of sex trafficking of minors before his death in 2019.
Although Lang has denied any wrongdoing, the magnitude of
the suspicions prompted a public prosecutor's investigation to clarify the
nature of these contacts and determine if any irregularities occurred.
The legal proceedings generated intense media and political
pressure, leading the former minister—who held the Culture portfolio during
François Mitterrand's presidency—to step down from his position at the head of
the Parisian cultural institution. In his decision, he sought to prevent the
situation from affecting the image and functioning of the organization while
authorities continue to examine the facts to establish responsibility.