Paris prosecutors say around 10 new suspected victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s network have come forward since France launched its probe into crimes tied to the disgraced US financier. The announcement came Sunday from Laure Beccuau, Paris’ top public prosecutor, who made the plea for victims in February after the US released the so-called ‘Epstein files’ in 2024. Some of these new witnesses allege abuse linked to Epstein’s operations in France or by French nationals connected to his network. The task force set up by France’s justice ministry in February is specifically looking at crimes committed on French soil or involving French citizens who may have played a role in Epstein’s trafficking ring. Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The case remains one of the most notorious examples of elite impunity in the US legal system, with unsealed documents in 2024 showing how high-profile figures allegedly enabled or ignored his crimes over decades. The French investigation is separate from ongoing US and UK reviews but mirrors efforts in other European countries to re-examine Epstein’s operations abroad. Beccuau told RTL Radio that around 20 people in total have now contacted authorities since the probe began, suggesting the true number of victims tied to Epstein’s network in France could still rise. The task force includes magistrates from multiple jurisdictions to handle cross-border evidence and testimony. French officials have emphasized that the probe is not limited to Epstein himself but extends to anyone in France who may have facilitated or concealed his crimes. The move follows pressure from victims’ groups and lawmakers who argue that earlier US investigations failed to hold enablers accountable. This is the first time France has actively pursued its own criminal cases tied to the Epstein network, though civil lawsuits against his estate have been filed in the past. The trove of 2024 documents released by the US Justice Department included flight logs, email chains, and victim testimonies that pointed to international connections, including trips to France. Prosecutors in Paris say they’re reviewing these materials alongside new tips from victims who say they were groomed or abused during the 1990s and 2000s. The investigation is expected to take months, with potential arrests or indictments hinging on what the task force uncovers about Epstein’s French connections. For now, victims’ lawyers say the French probe offers a rare chance to seek justice outside the US legal system, where Epstein’s death in 2019 closed most criminal cases against him. The case has already prompted soul-searching in elite circles in Europe, where Epstein maintained ties to politicians, business leaders, and celebrities. France’s handling of the probe will likely draw comparisons to other countries investigating Epstein’s network, including Spain and the UK. The outcome could influence how European nations handle similar transnational crime cases in the future. For the victims, the French investigation represents one of the few remaining avenues to hold Epstein’s associates accountable in a court of law.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: Deutsche Welle
  • Published: May 17, 2026 at 17:21 UTC
  • Category: World
  • Topics: #europe · #world-news · #french · #france · #epstein

Read the Full Story

This is a curated summary. For the complete article, original data, quotes and full analysis:

Read the full story on Deutsche Welle →

All reporting rights belong to the respective author(s) at Deutsche Welle. GlobalBR News summarizes publicly available content to help readers discover the most relevant global news.

Curated by GlobalBR News · May 17, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

A Justiça francesa revelou a identificação de dez novas vítimas do esquema criminoso de Jeffrey Epstein, após a divulgação de documentos judiciais nos Estados Unidos que expuseram a extensão da rede de abuso sexual do milionário nos dois países. A descoberta reforça a hipótese de que o caso, que já chocou o mundo com suas revelações sobre tráfico sexual e exploração de menores, pode ter deixado rastros ainda mais profundos na Europa, incluindo territórios sob jurisdição francesa como a ultramarina Polinésia Francesa.

A investigação ganha contornos especialmente relevantes para o Brasil, uma vez que a Polinésia Francesa, onde Epstein mantinha propriedades e era figura influente, é geograficamente próxima ao território nacional e compartilha laços culturais e históricos com o país. Além disso, a atuação da Justiça francesa em parceria com autoridades americanas pode abrir precedentes para que outros países, incluindo o Brasil, revisitem casos antigos de exploração sexual envolvendo redes internacionais, incentivando novas apurações. A revelação também reacende o debate sobre a impunidade histórica de casos envolvendo figuras poderosas e a necessidade de cooperação global para coibir crimes transnacionais.

A expectativa agora é que a força-tarefa francesa amplie o escopo das investigações, enquanto organizações de direitos humanos pressionam por respostas mais rápidas e abrangentes, inclusive em relação a possíveis vítimas brasileiras ou sul-americanas que tenham sido alvo da rede de Epstein.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

Francia profundiza en las sombras del caso Epstein con el hallazgo de diez nuevas víctimas en su territorio tras la reciente difusión de documentos judiciales en EE.UU., que revelan conexiones con una red internacional de explotación sexual. La investigación, liderada por una comisión especial, busca esclarecer crímenes vinculados al entramado del magnate Jeffrey Epstein en suelo francés, donde se sospecha que su influencia alcanzó a menores y adultos en contextos de vulnerabilidad.

El caso resuena con fuerza en el mundo hispanohablante por su dimensión global y las preguntas que plantea sobre la impunidad de élites poderosas. Para los lectores de España y Latinoamérica, donde casos similares han salido a la luz en años recientes, esta noticia refuerza la necesidad de sistemas judiciales más transparentes y cooperación internacional para perseguir delitos que trascienden fronteras. Además, invita a reflexionar sobre cómo la prensa y la sociedad deben abordar estas revelaciones sin revictimizar a los afectados, garantizando justicia y reparación.