A titan of French culture has fallen. Jack Lang, the flamboyant former minister who gave the world the Fête de la Musique, has resigned in disgrace from the Arab World Institute amidst a scandal that links him to the dark world of Jeffrey Epstein.

The fall was swift and brutal. At 86, Lang should have been taking a victory lap on a storied career. Instead, he is fighting for his reputation. The release of the "Epstein Files" by the US Department of Justice has acted like a grenade in the polite salons of Paris. Lang's name appears more than 600 times in the documents, revealing a web of contacts, flights, and financial arrangements that have prompted French prosecutors to open an investigation into "aggravated tax fraud laundering." The pressure became untenable, and on Saturday night, the icon bowed out.

The Shadow of the Financier

The details are damning. Emails show Lang corresponding with Epstein between 2012 and 2019, long after the financier's initial conviction. There are allegations of offshore companies, of requests for funding, and of a relationship that went far beyond casual acquaintance. Lang's daughter, Caroline, is also implicated, having founded a company with Epstein. Both deny any wrongdoing, claiming they were "duped" by a philanthropist, but the court of public opinion has already passed judgment.

• The Investigation: The French financial prosecutor’s office (PNF) is not known for its leniency. The probe into tax fraud suggests that the authorities believe money—dirty money—moved between the Epstein network and the Lang family.
• The Political Fallout: Lang is a heavyweight of the Socialist Party. His disgrace tarnishes the legacy of the Mitterrand era. Current politicians have been quick to distance themselves, with calls for his resignation coming from across the spectrum.
• The Institution: The Arab World Institute (IMA), a jewel of cultural diplomacy, is now rudderless. Lang's departure leaves a vacuum that will be hard to fill, but his continued presence was a stain the institution could not afford.

The End of an Era

Jack Lang was the man who modernized French culture. He built the Louvre Pyramid; he democratized art. To see him brought low by his association with a sex offender is a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions. It is a stark reminder that the past has a long reach.

As the investigators dig deeper into the files, Paris holds its breath. Jack Lang may be the biggest name to fall so far, but in the Epstein saga, he is unlikely to be the last.