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Police Raid Details
French authorities conducted a major police raid at the Paris headquarters of Swiss private bank Edmond de Rothschild on Friday, March 20, 2026, as part of an ongoing bribery investigation linked to the Epstein files.
“Epstein Case: Police raid at Edmond de Rothschild Bank headquarters in Paris”
The operation was confirmed by France's National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) on Tuesday and targeted suspected corruption involving a former diplomat who worked at the institution.
The searches were carried out at multiple locations, including the bank's Paris premises, in the presence of CEO Ariane de Rothschild, and are examining charges of passive corruption of a foreign public official and complicity in that offense.
The investigation was opened last month following a referral from France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and represents a significant development in the international fallout from the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents by U.S. authorities.
Target of Investigation
The central figure in the investigation is Fabrice Aidan, a former French diplomat who appears more than 200 times in the Epstein files from 2010-2017.
Aidan worked at Edmond de Rothschild Bank from 2014 to 2016 before joining the energy group Engie, which suspended him from his duties in mid-March following the revelations.
According to documents reviewed by multiple sources, the diplomat is suspected of providing Jeffrey Epstein with 'diplomatic information, services, or access to his international networks' while he was seconded by France to the United Nations.
Aidan was questioned at the end of February by the Central Office for Combating Corruption and Financial and Tax Offenses (OCLCIFF) under the status of a voluntary interview, and the investigation specifically focuses on charges of passive corruption of a foreign public official and complicity in that offense, confirmed by the financial prosecutor Pascal Prache.
Bank Response
In response to the raid and investigation, Edmond de Rothschild Bank has emphasized its cooperation with French authorities, stating that it 'fully cooperates with the justice system' in the framework of the investigation.
“Day by day, the Epstein case—the sex offender linked to figures in the global elite—transcends borders and touches politicians and businesspeople from distant latitudes”
A source close to the bank indicated that an internal investigation was launched as soon as suspicions regarding the former employee emerged.
The bank's CEO Ariane de Rothschild was present during the raid at the Paris headquarters.
However, the institution has faced mounting pressure since January 30 when millions of Epstein-related documents were released, revealing professional ties between Ariane de Rothschild and Jeffrey Epstein that began in 2013.
The bank has previously stated that de Rothschild met Epstein 'several times between 2013 and 2019 in the normal course of her duties within the group' and 'had no knowledge of Epstein's conduct or personal behavior.'
The bank manages approximately €216 billion in assets according to its latest results.
International Fallout
The raid on Edmond de Rothschild Bank represents a significant international ripple effect from the release of the so-called 'Epstein Files' by the United States Department of Justice in January.
These documents, released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, include agendas, flight logs, emails, and court records that reveal the extensive network of relationships Epstein maintained with political leaders, businesspeople, and royalty across multiple countries.
The mere mention of individuals' names in these documents does not necessarily imply wrongdoing, but they have renewed public interest around networks of sexual abuse and institutional cover-ups.
The French investigation is part of two parallel tracks examining Epstein's presence in France - one focusing on sexual offenses and another on economic and financial aspects under the supervision of the National Financial Prosecutor's Office.
Epstein spent several weeks per year in Paris, where he owned a luxurious apartment near the Arc de Triomphe, leaving traces that led to these investigations.
