US justice has temporarily removed a 52-page document linking Jack Lang to Jeffrey Epstein for further review. The file, from a Deutsche Bank presentation, mentions an offshore company involving the former minister's daughter. Meanwhile, Jack Lang has resigned from the presidency of the Arab World Institute.
A 52-page document titled EFTA01681865.pdf, from a Deutsche Bank presentation to the New York prosecutor, became unavailable on the US Department of Justice website since Monday, after being accessible until the previous Thursday. This file is part of the 'Epstein library' and links French former minister Jack Lang to financier Jeffrey Epstein through the offshore company Prytanee LLC, created in 2016.
Prytanee LLC is 50% owned by Southern Trust Company, Epstein's firm, and 50% by The Pierre Trust, fund of Caroline Lang, Jack Lang's daughter. Jack Lang's name appears in the company's statutes, though he denies any involvement in Epstein's financial dealings. A Deutsche Bank current account was opened on January 20, 2017, to manage expenses related to art acquisitions. Authorized signatories include Jeffrey Epstein, Caroline Lang, Darren Indyke, Epstein's lawyer, and Étienne Binant, company administrator and close advisor to Jack Lang. The latter received eleven transfers totaling 1.4 million dollars.
On February 6, France's National Financial Prosecutor's Office opened a preliminary investigation for 'money laundering of aggravated tax fraud' targeting Jack Lang and his daughter. US Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy Todd Blanche announced on February 5 the temporary removal of thousands of documents for review, particularly those identifying victims. Of six million Epstein documents, three million remain undisclosed due to child pornography material or victim identification, and 200,000 are held for ongoing investigations or attorney-client privilege. Jeffrey Epstein, charged with sex trafficking of minors, died in 2019.
Following these revelations, Jack Lang resigned from the presidency of the Arab World Institute (IMA) on Saturday evening. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Élysée aim to turn the page quickly. An extraordinary board meeting is scheduled for February 17 to elect a successor, proposed by the Quai d'Orsay with presidential support. Names such as Anne-Claire Legendre or François Gouyette are circulating. The new president must bridge politics and culture.
