Cracks Widen in Epstein Scandal: France and Norway Rocked

Epstein Files Rock Europe as France and Norway Launch Investigations

The fallout from the newly released Epstein Files is spreading quickly across Europe. In France, former culture minister Jack Lang is under mounting pressure to step down, while Norway has launched a formal corruption investigation into former prime minister Thorbjørn Jagland.

The publication of more than three million documents by the U.S. Department of Justice in late January 2026 has intensified scrutiny on high-profile European figures with alleged ties to the late American financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

Mounting Pressure on Jack Lang in France

In Paris, the walls are closing in on Jack Lang, currently president of the Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA). The 86-year-old former Socialist minister has been summoned to the French Foreign Office (Quai d’Orsay) at the request of the Élysée Palace and Prime Minister’s office. The government reportedly expects him to “think about the integrity of the institution” he leads.

Lang’s name appears more than 670 times in the Epstein files, a fact that has triggered widespread calls for his resignation — including from figures across the French political spectrum:

Olivier Faure, First Secretary of the Socialist Party, called his position “untenable.”
Ségolène Royal, former minister and Socialist heavyweight, urged “a gesture of moral responsibility.”
Renaud Muselier, who preceded Lang at the IMA, publicly stated that “the institution’s credibility must come first.”

Despite the calls, Lang insists he is “completely innocent” and has no intention of resigning.

Alleged Financial Links

According to documents released by U.S. prosecutors:

Epstein was allegedly involved in the 2015 offshore sale of a riad in Marrakech worth €5.4 million, reportedly linked to Lang’s circle.
His daughter, Caroline Lang, was listed in 2016 as a co-founder of an offshore company associated with Epstein.
She was also a named beneficiary in Epstein’s testament, allegedly set to receive $5 million.

Following these revelations, Caroline Lang resigned from her role at the French Syndicat de la Production Indépendante, just three weeks after being appointed.

Norway Opens Corruption Probe into Thorbjørn Jagland

In Oslo, the ripple effects have been no less serious. The Norwegian financial crimes unit Økokrim has opened an investigation into Thorbjørn Jagland, former Prime Minister (1996–1997), Nobel Peace Prize Committee chairman, and ex–Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Økokrim’s director Pål Lønseth said authorities had found “reasonable grounds” to examine whether Jagland received gifts, loans, or benefits tied to his official roles.

Calls for Immunity to Be Lifted

Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide confirmed that Norway will request the Council of Europe to lift Jagland’s immunity, a privilege tied to his previous international office.

“Transparency is essential — this must be fully investigated,” Eide stated.

Jagland’s lawyer Anders Brosveet said his client intends to cooperate fully and is “confident that the facts will clear his name.”

Wider Shockwaves Across Europe

The Epstein files are not just reviving old scandals — they’re triggering new political and institutional crises. Several European governments are urging transparency, while analysts say this may be the start of a broader reassessment of elite complicity and ethical standards in global politics.

While both Lang and Jagland deny wrongdoing, public trust — particularly in institutions like the IMA and the Council of Europe — may depend on how openly and swiftly these cases are handled.

The Bottom Line

The release of the Epstein files has reignited one of the most toxic controversies in global politics — a network of influence, secrecy, and alleged criminal ties that transcends borders.
France and Norway now find themselves at the forefront of Europe’s reckoning with Epstein’s legacy.