Financial crime prosecutors in France say they have opened a preliminary inquiry into former Culture Minister Jack Lang over his links to Jeffrey Epstein. Lang, a major figure in French socialist governments between the 1980s and 2000s, is being investigated for suspected laundering of tax fraud proceeds.

The inquiry follows the release of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice, which documented links between the Lang family and the American sex offender. Lang, now 86, denies wrongdoing and described the allegations as baseless. He expressed confidence that the investigation will shed light on the accusations questioning his integrity.

Upon announcement of the investigation, Lang offered to resign from his position as head of the Arab World Institute, a body promoting cooperation between France and Arab nations. In a letter to Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, he indicated he would submit his resignation at the next board meeting.

In the Epstein files, Lang is mentioned nearly 700 times, yet he has resisted prior pressure to step down. However, following discussions with Barrot, he acknowledged his resignation offer and the search for a successor will commence.

Lang's daughter, Caroline, is also under investigation and has resigned from her role in a French film producers' union. She stated that her initial engagement with Epstein in 2012 was naive, as he expressed interest in investing in young artists, despite the implications from the inquiry. Neither Lang nor his daughter have been linked to Epstein's criminal activities, as per the contents of the files released.