Paris Police Raid Arab World Institute in Epstein Document Fallout

Investigation focuses on alleged financial ties between institute's former head and Jeffrey Epstein

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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French authorities have carried out a high-profile police search at the Arab World Institute in Paris as part of a broader investigation into alleged financial wrongdoing involving the institute's former president, Jack Lang, and his daughter Caroline. The probe is examining whether any undeclared funds or financial advantages may have flowed from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to French individuals or institutions.

Why it matters

The raid on the prominent cultural institution underscores the widening European fallout from newly released documents related to Epstein's financial dealings and international contacts. The case has triggered political unease in France given Lang's stature and long career in public life, and it highlights the ongoing efforts by authorities to scrutinize potential domestic implications of the Epstein scandal.

The details

French prosecutors confirmed that officers searched the headquarters of the Arab World Institute, a landmark cultural institution overseen by France's foreign ministry. The operation was conducted at the request of France's National Financial Prosecutor's Office, which said the institute was one of several locations targeted as part of a preliminary inquiry into suspicions of tax fraud involving Lang and his daughter. Lang, who served as culture minister under former Socialist president François Mitterrand, resigned earlier this month from his role as president of the Arab World Institute, a position he had held since 2013.

  • The raid was carried out on February 16, 2026.
  • Lang resigned from his position at the Arab World Institute earlier this month, shortly after prosecutors opened the investigation.

The players

Jack Lang

A prominent figure in French cultural and political life who served as culture minister under former Socialist president François Mitterrand. Lang resigned earlier this month from his role as president of the Arab World Institute, a position he had held since 2013.

Caroline Lang

The daughter of Jack Lang, who is also under investigation as part of the probe into alleged financial wrongdoing.

Arab World Institute

A landmark cultural institution in Paris that is overseen by France's foreign ministry and serves as a platform for cultural dialogue between France and the Arab world.

National Financial Prosecutor's Office

The French judicial authority that requested the police search of the Arab World Institute as part of a preliminary inquiry into suspicions of tax fraud.

Jeffrey Epstein

The convicted sex offender whose financial dealings and international contacts are at the center of the widening European fallout that has led to the investigation of the Arab World Institute and its former president.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The investigation into the Arab World Institute and its former president is still in a preliminary stage, and no charges have been filed yet. Prosecutors are continuing to analyze the extensive Epstein-related records to determine if any further legal action is warranted.

The takeaway

The raid on the Arab World Institute highlights the far-reaching implications of the Epstein scandal, which continues to reverberate through European political, diplomatic, and cultural institutions years after his death. The case underscores the importance of transparency and accountability, as French authorities work to uncover any potential financial ties between Epstein and French individuals or organizations.