France’s ex-culture minister Jack Lang resigns from L’Institut du Monde Arabe amid Epstein revelations

Jack Lang, France’s former culture minister, resigned on 7 February 2026 as president of Paris’s Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA), a role he held since 2013, after renewed scrutiny from the Jeffrey Epstein files. The Art Newspaper reported on 9 February 2026 that Lang’s name appears 673 times in the files, though he has vigorously denied wrongdoing and criticized what he called a climate of “personal attacks” and “unfounded suspicions.” France’s foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the IMA board—made up of representatives of France and Arab states—would choose a successor within seven days. Lang acknowledged a “cordial relationship” with Epstein beginning around 15 years ago via Woody Allen, said he did not know of Epstein’s crimes, and the report notes emails indicating travel on Epstein’s jet and requests for sponsorship support between 2012 and 2019.

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