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French Investigators Search Edmond de Rothschild Offices in Paris Over Epstein-Linked Diplomat Case
PARIS — French investigators searched the Paris offices of Swiss bank Edmond de Rothschild on Friday as part of an ongoing inquiry into alleged corruption involving a former French diplomat whose name appeared in documents linked to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
The search, conducted in the presence of Ariane de Rothschild, the bank’s chief executive, marks the latest development in a case that has exposed alleged breaches of diplomatic protocol and raised questions about the handling of sensitive government information.
Diplomat’s Ties to Epstein
The investigation centers on Fabrice Aidan, a middle-ranking French diplomat who was seconded to the United Nations from 2006 to 2013. According to court documents, Aidan’s name appeared in more than 200 files released by the U.S. Justice Department, including emails he allegedly exchanged with Epstein between 2010 and 2016 using both his personal and U.N. accounts.
Some of the emails reviewed by Reuters show the transfer of U.N. Security Council briefings and other confidential documents to Epstein during that period.
Following his diplomatic postings, Aidan worked at Edmond de Rothschild from 2014 to 2016. The bank has stated that it launched an internal inquiry « as soon as suspicions emerged » concerning the former employee.
Aidan has denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Investigation Details
The investigation is being led by officers from France’s central office against corruption and financial and tax offences. Aidan was questioned in a voluntary interview in late February.
The French financial prosecutor’s office confirmed it is investigating accusations of « passive corruption of a foreign public official and complicity in that crime, » specifically targeting Aidan.
A source close to Edmond de Rothschild said the bank is « cooperating fully with the justice system » in the investigation led by the financial prosecutor. The same source noted that Ariane de Rothschild was present during the search on Friday. A spokesperson for the bank declined to comment further.
Government Response
The French Foreign Ministry said it has completed an administrative investigation into the matter, conducting approximately 30 interviews. The ministry stated that all current and former staff members who were summoned to the investigation cooperated fully.
The ministry added that it remains available to judicial authorities and is considering disciplinary proceedings.
Regulators Monitoring
Swiss financial regulator Finma said it considers all reliable information in its supervision and conducts in-depth reviews when in doubt about the integrity of business activities. When asked whether it was examining Epstein’s links with the Geneva-based Edmond de Rothschild, Finma declined to comment further.
Swiss federal prosecutors did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether they are also investigating the matter. A spokesperson for the Geneva prosecutor’s office declined to comment on whether any measures have been taken in the city.
Ariane de Rothschild’s Epstein Correspondence
Ariane de Rothschild also appeared in files released by the U.S. Justice Department in January, which showed she maintained a years-long personal correspondence with Epstein before his 2019 arrest.
After the files were made public, a spokesperson for the bank said that Epstein was « a business acquaintance of de Rothschild from 2013 to 2019 » and that de Rothschild « had no knowledge of Epstein’s conduct. »
The investigation remains ongoing as French authorities continue to examine the nature of the confidential documents that were allegedly shared with Epstein and whether any foreign corruption laws were violated.
Source : Reuters
