Caroline Lang has stepped down from the board of one of France’s most prominent LGBTQ+ support organisations, Fondation Le Refuge, as the fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues to expand across Europe.
Lang’s departure on February 9, 2026 comes shortly after her father, former French Culture Minister Jack Lang, resigned from his leadership position at the Arab World Institute (Institut du Monde Arabe) under intense political and media pressure over his connections with Epstein.
The controversy was reignited by a public release of official U.S. Justice Department documents that revealed extensive correspondence and financial links between the disgraced American financier and several high‑profile figures, including the Lang family.
Caroline Lang’s name appeared in the released files in connection with an offshore company she reportedly founded with Epstein in 2016, a revelation that triggered her earlier resignation from a leadership role at the Independent Producers’ Union in France.
While neither Jack nor Caroline Lang face criminal charges at this stage, the French Financial Prosecutor’s Office has opened a preliminary investigation into allegations of aggravated tax fraud and money laundering linked to their financial dealings with Epstein.
Supporters of Fondation Le Refuge have expressed hope that Lang’s resignation will allow the organisation to continue its mission supporting vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth without distraction. Lang had served on its board since 2021.
The broader Epstein revelations have also led to other resignations and political repercussions across Europe, illustrating how the scandal’s expanding documentation has implicated figures beyond the United States.
