Norwegian authorities have initiated a serious corruption investigation targeting former prime minister Thorbjørn Jagland, following explosive revelations about his connections with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Norwegian Economic Crime Investigation Service, a specialized unit combining police and prosecutors, announced on Thursday that it would examine whether Jagland received gifts, travel arrangements, or loans in connection with his official positions.
High-Profile Political Figure Under Scrutiny
Thorbjørn Jagland served as Norway's prime minister from 1996 to 1997 and held several prestigious international roles, including Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The investigation follows the release of over three million pages of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice last week, which detailed Epstein's extensive network of powerful contacts.
Documentary Evidence Reveals Epstein Connections
The newly released files show years of contact between Jagland and Epstein, including email correspondence indicating plans for Jagland and his family to visit Epstein's private island in 2014. At that time, Jagland was serving as chairman of the Nobel committee, with Epstein's personal assistant reportedly organizing flight arrangements for the proposed visit.
Norwegian authorities are now seeking to lift Jagland's diplomatic immunity, which he retains from his past service as a diplomat. Jagland's legal representative has confirmed to Norwegian broadcaster NRK that the former prime minister is fully cooperating with the investigation.
Wider Fallout Across Norwegian Society
Jagland represents just one of several prominent Norwegian figures whose reputations have been impacted by the Epstein document release. The World Economic Forum announced on Thursday that it was launching an internal review of its CEO Børge Brende, who served as Norway's foreign minister between 2013 and 2017, to determine the nature of his relationship with Epstein.
The files indicate Brende and Epstein dined together multiple times and exchanged messages, though Brende maintains he only met Epstein in business contexts and was unaware of his criminal background. Like Jagland, Brende has stated he is cooperating with investigations.
Royal Family Also Faces Scrutiny
Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit faces renewed examination of her past contacts with Epstein, coinciding with her son's ongoing trial for multiple offences including rape charges. The Epstein files contain several hundred mentions of the crown princess, who previously expressed regret in 2019 for having had any contact with Epstein.
Documents reveal that Mette-Marit borrowed an Epstein-owned property in Palm Beach, Florida, for several days in 2013, with NRK reporting the stay was arranged through a mutual friend. The royal household has since confirmed these arrangements.
In a recent statement, Crown Princess Mette-Marit acknowledged: "I must take responsibility for not having investigated Epstein's background more thoroughly, and for not realizing sooner what kind of person he was. I showed poor judgment and regret having had any contact with Epstein at all. It is simply embarrassing."
Broader Implications and Ongoing Investigations
The Norwegian investigations come against the backdrop of global scrutiny following Epstein's death by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing underage girls at his U.S. residences. The release of millions of documents has triggered investigations and reviews across multiple countries and institutions.
As Norway's Economic Crime Investigation Service proceeds with its aggravated corruption probe, the case highlights how Epstein's network extended into the highest levels of Norwegian politics, diplomacy, and even royalty. The investigations continue to develop as authorities examine the full extent of connections between Norwegian public figures and the disgraced financier.
