Key Highlights
- The latest tranche of Epstein documents reveals links between the late financier and France’s elite.
- Jack Lang, a former culture minister, is at the center of this scandal for his interactions with Epstein.
- Ariane de Rothschild, a powerful French figure, also had dealings with Epstein, discussing international politics and economic strategy.
- Political parties like Marine Le Pen’s National Rally received support from Epstein through his connections with Steve Bannon.
The French Connection: Epstein’s Tentacles Reach Far into French Politics
Four months before Jeffrey Epstein was arrested and charged with sex trafficking, he posed smiling with a powerful French friend outside the Louvre. The photo, released by the US Department of Justice, shows Jack Lang, an 86-year-old former culture minister known as “the Sun King” for his decades of influence over France’s arts scene.
The Rise of Lang
Lang’s relationship with Epstein began when the pair met at a dinner hosted by Woody Allen in 2012. That was three years after Epstein ended his Florida prison sentence for soliciting prostitution of a minor. “When I form a friendly relationship, I am not in the habit of asking the person for their criminal record,” Lang said. “When I learnt of the abominable crimes he committed, I was completely shocked.” He told France 2 television that he had never received money from Epstein and described him as “so courteous, so charming, so generous.”
In one exchange, Lang praised Epstein’s “infinite generosity” and exchanged messages with him in 2015 about a friend’s property for sale. Caroline Lang, his daughter, resigned on Monday as executive director of the Independent Production Union, an industry body.
The Rothschild Connection
Ariane de Rothschild, another powerful French figure and chief executive of Edmond de Rothschild banking group, had frequent meetings in cafés with Epstein. She is recorded consulting him on international politics and economic strategy. In 2018, she explained at length to him the “yellow vest” grassroots uprising against Macron.
De Rothschild’s spokesman said her exchanges were held “within the normal scope of her duties.” She had no knowledge of his behavior, was deeply shocked by the revelations, and unambiguously condemns the crimes attributed to him. Though Le Pen is mentioned 70 times in the latest batch of Epstein documents, there is no direct communication between them.
The Political Fallout
Messages from Steve Bannon to Epstein reveal how the right-wing American intervened to save the finances of the French right-wing populist party. In response, the radical-left France Unbowed party called for a parliamentary inquiry into the pedophile’s alleged interference in French life.
Le Pen and her party have not responded to media requests on mentions of her in the Epstein correspondence. Party officials point out that none of the released documents contain any exchange between Epstein and the party or its leaders.
The Broader Impact
Epstein’s connections extend beyond politics into the banking sector, where he had dealings with Ariane de Rothschild, discussing international politics, economic strategy, and people to contact. These revelations have embarrassed luminaries of the political, banking, and arts worlds, including Marine Le Pen.
The scandal has sparked calls for a parliamentary inquiry, highlighting the intricate web of relationships between Epstein and key figures in French society. As the investigation continues, it remains unclear whether these connections played any role in shaping policy or financial decisions within France’s elite circles.
