French prosecutors have launched two broad investigations into potential criminal activity linked to the late U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein, focusing on alleged human trafficking and financial offences including money laundering and tax fraud.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau announced the move on Wednesday, saying authorities would examine publicly released documents related to Epstein alongside complaints filed by child protection organisations. One investigation will center on possible trafficking offences, while a separate probe will examine suspected financial crimes.
Epstein, who died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, had previously been convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor. His longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell was later convicted in the United States of trafficking underage girls for sexual abuse.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, five magistrates will review flight logs, emails and other materials released by the U.S. Department of Justice to determine whether French nationals may have been involved in sexual exploitation or financial wrongdoing. Authorities said the renewed scrutiny aims in part to encourage potential victims who have not yet come forward to contact investigators.
Epstein frequently traveled to Paris and owned a luxury apartment near the Arc de Triomphe on Avenue Foch, making France the only country outside the United States where he is known to have held property. Campaign groups have argued that this connection warrants deeper examination of any activities tied to his network in France.
French authorities had previously opened an inquiry into Epstein’s local connections in 2019. That case was closed in 2023 after Jean-Luc Brunel, a modeling agent and longtime Epstein associate, died in a French prison while under investigation.
The newly announced investigations also extend to financial matters. Prosecutors have opened a preliminary inquiry into former French culture minister Jack Lang and his daughter Caroline on suspicion of tax fraud. They are also reviewing other cases, including allegations that French diplomat Fabrice Aidan transferred United Nations documents to Epstein. Aidan has denied the accusation.
Separately, a panel of independent experts at the United Nations Human Rights Council suggested this week that Epstein’s network may have operated as a global criminal enterprise and raised concerns about acts that could amount to crimes against humanity.
French prosecutors acknowledged that the available material remains incomplete and described the task ahead as extensive, noting that the scope and outcome of the investigations remain uncertain.