French FM Pledges Thorough Investigation into Diplomat-Epstein Links
Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed on Sunday that the investigation within the Foreign Ministry is ongoing and is meant to assist judicial authorities. He added that disciplinary measures have already been initiated against the diplomat.
“The investigation is ongoing,” Barrot said in a joint interview with multiple outlets, emphasizing that it is still “a little early” to determine how responsibility might be assigned. He stressed that the ministry would “obviously ensure that responsibilities can be established.”
Barrot revealed that he referred the case to prosecutors under Article 40 of France’s Code of Criminal Procedure after learning on February 10 of documents implicating the diplomat. He described the allegations as “appalling” and “outraged” him personally.
The initial communications referenced in the documents date back to 2010, when French diplomat Fabrice Aidan was serving at the United Nations on secondment from France.
Reports indicate he was also linked to Norwegian diplomat Terje Rod-Larsen, who, along with his wife Mona Juul, is under investigation in Norway over suspected corruption connected to Epstein.
Barrot said he could not confirm what information Aidan may have shared with Epstein. He also revealed that the diplomat had previously been investigated by US authorities for viewing child pornography, a matter the French Foreign Ministry had not questioned him about at the time.
On January 30, the US Justice Department released over 3 million pages of documents, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law last November, as stated by reports.
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