Following the announcement of the latest tranche by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on January 30, French authorities warned that Russian foreign operations were attempting to implicate French President Emmanuel Macron in the Epstein file.
According to Viginum, France’s anti-foreign information manipulation agency, the campaign was sparked by a false article shared on a website imitating fringe media outlet France Soir.
The false article claimed that French President Emmanuel Macron attended several parties at Epstein’s Paris mansion on the upscale Rue Foch in Paris’ 16th arrondissement and that Epstein “liked young men.”
According to government sources cited by French media, Biginum also warned that the campaign had the hallmarks of Russia’s Storm 1516 operation, which spreads fabricated stories and deepfakes to advance the Kremlin’s interests.
In addition to impersonating a news organization, the article was signed by a journalist working for the French newspaper Le Parisien. known strategies Hired for Russian propaganda purposes.
The article’s claims have since been picked up on social media, including in a news report-like video that claims Macron organized a party with “young people” just a week after he was first inaugurated as president in May 2017.
One of the accounts that shared the doctored video, @LoetitiaH, is a propagator of pro-Russian rhetoric.
In X, French authorities responded to the video on their French Response account, emphasizing that the document in the video was actually created using artificial intelligence.
In a sarcastic post, French Response wrote: “It turns out that Loetisia (the
Party allegedly held at Epstein’s Paris mansion
The allegations in the article and social media video center around a doctored email exchange between Epstein and modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel dated May 20, 2017.
However, there is no trace of these interactions in the Justice Department’s official database. The document reference code exists, but an unrelated entry is created. The audio in the video, on the other hand, appears to be generated by AI.
In a fabricated exchange, Brunel told Epstein about Macron’s plan to hold a party at Epstein’s Avenue Foch mansion.
Brunel reportedly said, “I’ll bring some boys with me…he likes young boys.”
“Too young is a good thing, we know what he likes,” Epstein wrote.
The video also highlights the fact that Macron’s name is mentioned about 200 times in the Epstein files. However, there is no evidence that the pair ever communicated directly.
Many of these references were newspaper clippings or discussions of French politics, including a reference to Macron by Steve Bannon, who the files show had extensive discussions with Epstein about efforts to strengthen far-right parties in Europe in 2018 and 2019.
Meanwhile, Mr. Brunel maintained close ties with Mr. Epstein. This exemplary agent was jailed in December 2020 for his role in recruiting young women for the disgraced financier, before committing suicide in 2022.
Numerous modified covers of French newspapers, including Libération and Le Parisien, also circulated online. The newspaper Libération’s headline read: “What did Emmanuel Macron do on Mr. Epstein’s island 18 times while he was France’s economy minister?”, while the headline in Le Parisien read: “Emmanuel Macron: 18 visits to Mr. Epstein’s island”.
There is no evidence in the files that Mr. Macron planned a visit to Mr. Epstein’s private island in the Caribbean, and neither newspaper published such articles.
The Anti-Disinformation Center, an affiliate of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said the posts were amplified by the Matryoshka bot network, considered one of the largest Kremlin-coordinated propaganda networks.
These accounts aim to spread large amounts of fake content on Twitter, X, and TikTok with the goal of spreading disinformation.
Epstein’s interest in Macron
Macron’s name is indeed mentioned, but latest batch There is absolutely no evidence in the so-called Epstein files that he was involved in any wrongdoing or knew of any wrongdoing.
Many of the references indicate that Epstein had a strong interest in the French president.
For example, documents dated October 2, 2018 show that Mr. Epstein spent time eavesdropping on Mr. Macron’s contacts in an attempt to contact him.
In the document, Epstein asks Caroline Lang, daughter of former French culture and education minister Jacques Lang, to make direct contact with people in Macron’s inner circle. Caroline replies that she will ask her father and contact him.
Another document from 2018 shows US billionaire Tom Pritzker referring to a meeting between Mr Macron and another intermediary named Jack, and other correspondence appears to show Mr Pritzker and Mr Epstein trying to contact Mr Macron through Lang about awarding the Pritzker Architecture Prize.
The files feature repeated appearances of Jack and Caroline Lang, references to upcoming meetings, and an exchange in which Epstein appears to brag to Steve Bannon about meeting Lang in Paris. “Elite ministers,” Epstein wrote, attaching a photo of Jack Lang.
The post shared by @LoetitiaH is accompanied by an actual photo of the file in which Caroline Lang told Epstein that “Macron will soon announce a government reshuffle.”
The account claims this is an example of Lang providing Epstein with “confidential information regarding government business.” Newspaper clippings from October 9, 2018, the date of this email, show that Mr Macron had planned to announce a cabinet reshuffle, but ultimately postponed it.
This information has already been made available to the public, following the resignation of the then Interior Minister.
Jack Lang, now director of the Arab World Institute in Paris, was summoned to the French Foreign Ministry over his ties to Epstein after the latest part of the file was made public.
He said he did not know the extent of Epstein’s crimes, but knew he was a man with a “passion for art, culture and film.”
Other references to Mr Macron include French banker Ariane de Rothschild and former Norwegian prime minister Torbjörn Jagland, who mention meeting Mr Macron. There is no evidence that Mr. Epstein attended these meetings.
One document released in 2016 shows that Emirati businessman Soutan bin Sulayem sent a message to Epstein saying they had lunch on the Elysee and had a pleasant conversation with Macron “about business in France.” There is no further mention of Mr Macron and Mr bin Sulayem in their files.
Another file from 2018 shows a redacted sender suggesting he spoke with Macron about global governance and the social economy.
Epstein is a participant in this exchange, and the sender and another participant have been redacted.
However, there is no evidence that Mr. Epstein arranged a face-to-face meeting with Mr. Macron.