The Property
Epstein maintained an apartment in the 16th arrondissement — one of Paris’s most exclusive residential districts — serving as his European base.
The French Investigation
Following Epstein’s 2019 arrest, French authorities opened a preliminary investigation, then in 2021 escalated to a formal judicial instruction (a more advanced stage of French criminal proceedings). Central figures included Jean-Luc Brunel, who operated extensively from France. Brunel’s 2022 death in custody ended the direct case against him.
Maxwell’s Paris Presence
Maxwell spent considerable time in Paris — her family’s Maxwellian publishing empire had significant European roots, and she was reportedly based partly in Paris in the period following Epstein’s 2019 arrest before being located in New Hampshire.
Status
French proceedings from the judicial investigation remain ongoing as of 2025. No additional individuals have been charged in France.