GENEVA

Former French Culture Minister Jack Lang said Wednesday that Jeffrey Epstein "was not a friend," but he does not regret having known the late disgraced US financier and convicted sex offender, after his name appeared in released US Justice Department documents.

Lang told BFMTV that he met Epstein about 15 years ago through his "friend" and filmmaker Woody Allen.

"He is not a friend," Lang said, referring to Epstein. "I knew nothing about him. I found the man passionate about art, culture and cinema."

Lang, however, said he does not feel remorse about the past acquaintance. "I’m not in the habit of spitting on people I knew at one time and who later are accused of crimes," he said.

Asked about being seen with Epstein at the Louvre in March 2019, months before Epstein's death in jail, Lang said he was unaware of the legal proceedings at the time.

"I don’t spend my life following court reports," he said.

He also said his name appeared "by chance" in the statutes of a company linked to Epstein and denied any financial benefit, stressing that "not a single cent of Epstein’s went into my pocket."

Lang ruled out resigning as president of the Arab World Institute. In contrast, his daughter, Caroline, resigned from the Independent Producers Union after her name appeared in exchanges with Epstein.