French ex-minister offers resignation

EPSTEIN SCANDAL

- 

Lang: Claims accusations against him are 'baseless'

Veteran French politician Jack Lang, a former minister, offered his resignation from a key cultural post on Saturday as pressure grows on him over revelations in the latest release of the Epstein files.

Mr Lang, who has headed the Arab World Institute (IMA) since 2013, is the most high-profile public figure in France caught up in the latest release of private messages from the convicted sex offender.

He offered to resign in a letter to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who told reporters he had taken note of Lang’s submission and planned to launch the process to name an interim president of the IMA.

“I offer to submit my resignation” at the next board meeting, the 86-year-old wrote in the letter, seen by AFP.

Mr Lang had been summoned to the foreign ministry yesterday but that meeting was cancelled, according to a source close to the ministry, speaking on the condition of anonymity.