Renewed anger is being felt across Europe after the US Department of Justice released a new tranche of documents, linked to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

Now, Paris prosecutors are reopening investigations into Epstein's French links, with police calling on victims to come forward.

CGTN sat down with criminologist Xavier Raufer, who's also penned a book about Epstein. He says the newly released documents could be significant for French investigators. 

"Maybe by looking at them, we'll find some elements from a more recent period, then a case could be opened. But the first one we had in France, it was not possible because of prescription."

In France, prescription is the legal time limit for bringing a case to court. In the Epstein enquiry, that means many older allegations of sexual offences may now be time-barred, which is one reason experts say the financial trail may be where evidence can still be tested.

Several French figures have been named in the files. And while appearing in the documents does not in itself imply wrongdoing, the revelations are fuelling public mistrust. 

Political commentator Philippe Karsenty told CGTN: "For the French people, I would say that they're really reluctant to give any more confidence to these kinds of people. And it's very important now for the French politicians to get back the trust."

The Paris prosecutor's office has confirmed it's reviewing the Epstein files in detail. It says it's comparing the new material with victim complaints, media reporting, and evidence previously examined by French courts.

Separately, French police have conducted searches at other locations in Paris regarding alleged Epstein-related ties, including the Arab World Institute, in a probe involving former Culture Minister, Jack Lang.

Meanwhile, a property on Avenue Foch remains central to the French part of this story. The disgraced financier, Epstein, owned a luxury apartment in the prestigious Parisian area, which has now become a focal point, as prosecutors revisit his links to France.

Raufer also highlights Epstein's access to powerful circles. He believes this is part of how Epstein protected himself. 

"He saw that dealing with those rich people, billionaires, and Silicon Valley, the top guys protected him. Because you remember when Wall Street crashed in 2008, the banks were too big to fail. Epstein wanted to be too big to be arrested. It's the same logic," he said.

For prosecutors, the focus is now on what can still be proved in France, and what remains within legal time limits. But this increased scrutiny is reviving questions about access, accountability and protection for the powerful.