"The former French culture minister Jack Lang resigned as the president of the L'Institut du Monde Arab (Institute of the Arab World, or IMA) on Saturday (7 February) over his ties with Jeffrey Epstein. Lang, 86, who has led the Parisian institution since 2013, vigorously denies any wrongdoing, following the latest revelations from the Epstein files, where his name appears 673 times. France's foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, "took note" of the resignation and announced that the IMA board, composed of representatives of France and Arab states, will choose a successor within seven days."
"In a letter to the minister, published by news agency AFP, Jack Lang criticised "the current climate of personal attacks, unfounded suspicions and amalgams". "It revolts and disgusts me," he said, adding that he is resigning in order "to preserve the magnificent institution that is the IMA" and "to be able to refute all the accusations" against him. Initially, Jack Lang stated he felt "he had no reason to resign". He acknowledged his long "cordial relationship" with Jeffrey Epstein, whom he says he met around 15 years ago through the film director Woody Allen. Lang claims, however, that he knew nothing of his sex crimes."
Jack Lang, 86, resigned as president of the Institut du Monde Arabe on 7 February after his name appeared repeatedly in the Epstein files. Lang led the Parisian institution since 2013 and denies any wrongdoing. France's foreign minister acknowledged the resignation and said the IMA board will pick a successor within seven days. In a letter Lang criticised a climate of personal attacks and said he resigned to preserve the institution and to refute accusations. Lang acknowledged a cordial relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, said he met him through Woody Allen, and denied knowledge of Epstein's sex crimes.
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