His comments came after Lang offered to resign from his position at the Arab World Institute on Saturday following French prosecutors’ decision to open a preliminary tax fraud investigation into Lang and his daughter Caroline after their names appeared in files related to Epstein.
“This is an issue that primarily concerns the United States,” Macron said, adding that he did not want to “participate” in public debate about the Epstein scandal.
“The local justice system has to play its role, that’s all,” Macron said.
The French president also called for “real journalism”, noting that the leak of government files on Epstein had created “fuel for conspiracy theories”.
Lang, 86, is France’s highest-profile public figure embroiled in the recent publication of private messages from a convicted sex offender.
Asked about his decision to resign, Macron said he had taken note of the decision, adding that the choice had been made “in good conscience.” Lang has denied any wrongdoing, saying he was “shocked” to find his name on the terms and conditions of an offshore company Epstein founded in 2016 and that he was only suing Epstein as a philanthropist.
On Monday, his daughter Caroline, who reportedly owned half of the company, resigned from the board of the Le Refuge Foundation, which is dedicated to housing and supporting LGBTQ youth estranged from their families.
She had previously stepped down as president of the Guild of Independent Producers (SPI), which represents independent filmmakers in France.
Mere mention in the file does not imply cheating.
Top U.S. prosecutor Todd Blanche said on February 1 that authorities would not pursue any further charges after the more than 3 million items released at the end of January.
