French ex-minister summoned to explain Epstein ties

France's former culture minister Jack Lang has been summoned to the foreign ministry to explain his links with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a source close to the presidency told AFP Thursday.

The president's and prime minister's offices each "asked the foreign minister to summon him so he can give an explanation", the source said.

A foreign ministry source confirmed to AFP that Lang had been "summoned", without giving further details.

Lang, 86, did not immediately respond to AFP's request to comment.

Lang's daughter Caroline resigned as head of a film producers' union on Monday following revelations about the family's links to Epstein.

On Wednesday, Jack Lang ruled out resigning as head of the Arab World Institute in Paris.

But the source close to President Emmanuel Macron said his office believes Lang should "think of the institution" he has chaired since 2013.

No charges have been brought against the Langs, and mentions of them among millions of documents related to Epstein released by the US Justice Department do not necessarily imply wrongdoing. 

AFP