French foreign minister says he is ‘appalled’ after diplomat named in Epstein files

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) – France’s foreign minister said Wednesday that he was “appalled” after a French diplomat was cited in newly released documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying he had referred the matter to the judiciary.

Speaking on RTL radio, Jean-Noel Barrot said he had contacted the public prosecutor and launched both an administrative inquiry and disciplinary proceedings after learning that the name of diplomat Fabrice Aidan appeared in the latest batch of Epstein files released by the US.

“The facts are extremely serious. I was appalled,” Barrot said, adding that at this stage he would not suggest the case implicates officials at the Foreign Ministry as a whole.

According to Barrot, Aidan is currently seconded outside the ministry. He previously worked at French energy group Engie, which announced his suspension following the revelations.

Barrot said dozens of emails exchanged with Epstein had emerged.

He said disciplinary procedures would determine the diplomat’s future at the ministry, and did not rule out the possibility that other diplomats’ names could appear in the files.

Barrot said the emergence of some hundreds of thousands of emails with Epstein “raises very serious suspicions,” referring to allegations of sexual violence, financial misconduct, and possible attempts to influence European countries.

The US Justice Department last month released more than 3 million pages, 2,000 videos and 180,000 images under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law last November.

Epstein was found dead in his New York City jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. In 2008 he pleaded guilty and was convicted of procuring a minor for prostitution, but critics call the relatively minor conviction a “sweetheart deal.”

His victims have alleged that he operated a sprawling sex trafficking network that was used by members of the wealthy and political elite. They have also criticized the latest release of Epstein files, saying they are too heavily redacted, with many important documents omitted.