France Epstein probe identifies potential recruiters

A French investigation linked to Jeffrey Epstein has identified names of potential recruiters, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said Thursday.

Beccuau told France Inter radio that investigators had obtained other names while examining alleged human trafficking that allowed the US sex offender to commit abuses. She described the Epstein network as a labyrinth and said investigators had to follow many leads.

The case has so far led investigators to New York and towards Saint-Tropez and Cannes, Beccuau said. She said 26 victims had been identified, including eight who still needed to be questioned because some lived abroad. Thirteen of the 26 had not previously appeared in any case, she said.

France opened a human trafficking investigation after the US Justice Department in January released the latest files from the investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while facing charges of trafficking underage girls for sex.

The French investigation continued after modelling scout Daniel Siad, who was accused of helping Epstein traffic women, was found dead at his home in July before he could be questioned.

French authorities have previously examined figures in the modelling industry. Magistrates dropped an investigation into sexual assault and rape claims against Gerald Marie, a former European head of the Elite modelling agency, because the alleged abuse was beyond the statute of limitations. Marie denied wrongdoing last month in an interview with RTL and said he had met Epstein only once.

French police arrested modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel in 2020 after allegations he procured women for Epstein. Brunel was found dead in prison in 2022.