Searches are underway this Monday morning at various locations, including the Arab World Institute (IMA) in Paris, as part of the investigation targeting its resigning president, former French minister Jack Lang, for his alleged financial links with Jeffrey Epstein, the national financial prosecutor's office announced.

► The Paris prosecutor's office announced on Saturday, February 14, that it had appointed magistrates to analyze potential offenses related to French nationals. Five cases are under investigation: a preliminary inquiry for " aggravated tax fraud and money laundering " targeting former Minister of Culture and now former president of the Arab World Institute Jack Lang and his daughter Caroline Lang ; former modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel , a close associate of Jeffrey Epstein who committed suicide in custody in 2022, accused by ten women of forced sexual acts; diplomat Fabrice Aidan, cited in documents declassified by the US Department of Justice; model recruiter Daniel Siad , targeted by a complaint from a Swedish woman for rape " that may have been committed in the 1990s "; and conductor Frédéric Chaslin , for acts of sexual harassment allegedly committed in 2016.

► Searches are underway this Monday morning in various locations , including the Arab World Institute (IMA) in Paris, as part of the investigation targeting its resigning president, former French minister Jack Lang, for his alleged financial links with Jeffrey Epstein, the national financial prosecutor's office announced.

Times are given in Universal Time (Paris -1 hour)

1:15 PM: A French woman claims to have been sexually assaulted by American producer Steve Tisch

A French woman, wishing to remain anonymous, claims to have been sexually assaulted in New York by American producer Steve Tisch, whom she was introduced to by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, franceinfo revealed on Monday, February 16. The news outlet consulted declassified files and was able to interview the victim. Steve Tisch is the producer of, among other films, Forrest Gump, The Equalizer , and American History X. He is also a co-owner of one of the most famous American football teams, the New York Giants.

12:01 PM: " I have nothing to hide ," Jack Lang told AFP

Jack Lang said he was " calm " despite the searches carried out on Monday at the Arab World Institute in Paris in connection with the Epstein case, telling AFP he had " nothing to hide ".

"I am delighted because I have nothing to hide," assured the outgoing president of the IMA, who bid farewell on Monday to the institution he led for 13 years. " I am completely calm and confident ," he added.

11:20 AM: Searches targeting Jack Lang are underway at the Arab World Institute and other locations

Journalists work outside the Arab World Institute (IMA) as French police conduct a search as part of an investigation into its former director, former French Culture Minister Jack Lang, and his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, in Paris, France, on February 16, 2026. © Stephane Mahe / Reuters

Searches were underway Monday as part of the preliminary investigation into aggravated tax fraud and money laundering charges against Jack Lang and Caroline Lang, linked to the "Epstein Files ," the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) announced. Investigators from the National Anti-Fraud Office are notably conducting a search at the Arab World Institute in Paris, of which Jack Lang was president until his resignation just over a week ago, following the revelation of his past financial ties to the American businessman and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The PNF opened a preliminary investigation on February 6 into suspicions of aggravated tax fraud money laundering, in particular concerning an offshore company based in the US Virgin Islands created by Jeffrey Epstein for the benefit of Caroline Lang in 2016.