France, Feb. 16 -- The national financial prosecutor's office said it had opened a preliminary investigation into alleged aggravated tax fraud and money laundering involving Jack Lang and his daughter Caroline Lang.

Lang resigned earlier this month as president of the Arab World Institute, a position he had held for over a decade, after it was revealed that he had corresponded numerous times with the sexual predator.

Lang had previously requested favours from Jeffrey Epstein, including use of the financier's car or private plane for himself or family members.The former minister's name also appeared in the statutes of an offshore company founded by Epstein in 2016.

Lang has denied any wrongdoing, saying he was "shocked" to learn of the ...