French police entered the Arab World Institute in Paris on Monday, seizing documents as part of a probe into former head Jack Lang and his alleged ties to convicted U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein. Prosecutors said the raid follows a widening investigation into the late financier’s European connections.

The National Financial Prosecutor opened a preliminary tax‑fraud inquiry into Lang and his daughter Caroline after U.S. courts released new Epstein files. Lang, who led the institute since 2013, resigned this month, insisting he never knew about Epstein’s crimes despite exchanging emails from 2012 to 2019.

Paris prosecutors have assembled a dedicated team to sift through the leaked documents, coordinating with the financial prosecutor and national police. Among the cases under review is diplomat Fabrice Aidan, accused of passing United Nations material to Epstein. Aidan’s lawyer denies the allegation, but the inquiry remains open.

The raid underscores heightened scrutiny of French cultural bodies linked to foreign financiers, raising governance concerns for donors and sponsors. No immediate financial impact has been reported, yet the episode could prompt tighter oversight of nonprofit funding. Authorities have yet to disclose any charges, leaving the institute’s future operations in question.