France’s foreign minister requests an investigation after a diplomat’s name appears in emails linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
PARIS: France’s foreign minister has requested an internal inquiry and a judicial probe after the name of a French diplomat appeared in emails linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Jean-Noel Barrot said he was “appalled” and had referred allegations against Fabrice Aidan to the public prosecutor.
The foreign ministry described Aidan as a “principal foreign affairs secretary on leave for personal reasons”.
His name was found in files released from the investigation into Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019.
French media reported Aidan had shared email correspondence with Epstein between 2010 and 2017.
Investigative website Mediapart reported the FBI had previously flagged Aidan for consulting child sexual abuse websites while working at the UN in New York.
That alleged activity reportedly led to an internal UN probe and his resignation from the organisation.
Mediapart also reported that Aidan sent UN documents and reports to Epstein during his tenure.
Aidan was an adviser to Norway’s Terje Rod-Larsen at the UN, who is now also under investigation by Norwegian police over Epstein ties.
After leaving the UN, Aidan worked for the UN cultural agency UNESCO before a more recent role at energy group Engie.
Engie told AFP it had “decided to relieve Fabrice Aidan from his duties” in light of the media reports.
AFP was not immediately able to contact Aidan for comment, and his LinkedIn profile appeared to have been deleted.
The fallout from the latest Epstein document release has also impacted former French culture minister Jack Lang.
Lang resigned as head of the Arab World Institute after his name appeared in the statutes of an offshore company Epstein founded.
He has denied any wrongdoing, saying he was “shocked” by the connection.
His daughter Caroline, who allegedly owned half the shares in that company, has also resigned from two positions.
