French authorities have called on the United States to allow them to investigate activities of notorious financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was in jail for pedophilia at the time of his suicide.

Two French ministers issued a joint statement Monday, calling on Washington to cooperate with the French over sex trafficker’s activities in France.

“His death in prison ends the preparation of the trial initially scheduled to take place in 2020 and hence leaves numerous questions unanswered … The American investigation shed light on links with France. It therefore seems fundamental to us, and for the victims, that an investigation should be opened in France so that all the light is shed on the matter,” French Secretary of State for Gender Equality Marlène Schiappa and Secretary of State for Child Protection Adrien Taquet said in the statement.

Epstein was arrested in the United States upon landing from France on July 6. The registered sex offender was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges over alleged abuse of underaged girls, some as young as 14.

“France is concerned … since the FBI investigations mention multiple persons of French nationality,” French NGO Innocence en danger wrote in a letter to the French prosecutor on Monday, published by French magazine L’Obs. In it, it also asserted that it had “gotten confirmation that many of the victims of the prostitution ring created by Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplices, are also of French nationality.”

US President Donald Trump has admitted knowing Epstein, and in a 2002 interview called him a “terrific guy” who “likes beautiful women as much as I do.”

Apart from that Epstein was close to many other high-profile figures such as former President Bill Clinton.

Source: Presstv