Norway is preparing an investigation into its foreign ministry following revelations of links between prominent Norwegian figures and the late U.S. financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move comes after the release of new documents detailing Epstein’s extensive network of contacts with politicians, royals, and business elites worldwide.
Among those under scrutiny are Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who recently issued a public apology to the King and Queen over her correspondence with Epstein, and Thorbjoern Jagland, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, currently under investigation by Norway’s economic crime police for suspected aggravated corruption. Jagland has said he will cooperate with authorities and is confident of proving his innocence.
Other notable figures include Boerge Brende, former Foreign Minister and current head of the World Economic Forum, as well as Mona Juul and her husband Terje Roed-Larsen, both of whom played a role in establishing the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Norwegian media report that a majority of parliamentary parties support an independent inquiry into the foreign ministry. However, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere has indicated he would prefer that parliament itself conduct the investigation.
The scandal in Norway mirrors fallout across Europe, where political leaders and public figures have come under pressure due to their connections with Epstein. In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced criticism over his appointment of Peter Mandelson, a known Epstein associate, as ambassador to Washington. In Slovakia, a national security adviser resigned after emails linked him to Epstein, while in France, former culture minister Jack Lang is being urged to step down as president of the Arab World Institute.
Norway’s Nobel Prize legacy and diplomatic reputation are now at the center of the controversy, highlighting the wide-reaching impact of the Epstein revelations across Europe.