Norway looks set to launch its own foreign ministry probe into links to late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with several European countries feeling the heat from a scandal that has yet to spark a major political backlash in the US.
The release of a huge cache of new files last week revealed a host of new Epstein connections to politicians, royals and the ultra-rich. (AP)The release of a huge cache of new files last week revealed a host of new Epstein connections to politicians, royals and the ultra-rich.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s future looks increasingly uncertain after last year’s decision to name Epstein’s close friend Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington.
The king’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, had already been forced to renounce his royal title and luxury residence and is now under increasing pressure to testify in the United States.
In Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico’s national security adviser resigned after the release of emails in which he discussed the young women with Epstein.
And former French culture minister Jacques Lange is being called upon to resign as president of the Arab World Institute.
But Norway, home to the Nobel Peace Prize and often a hotbed of international diplomacy, seems to have more parts than results.
All members of the public are under renewed scrutiny, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit and former prime minister and foreign minister Thorbjørn Jugland.
former foreign minister Boerge Brende, now head of the World Economic Forum; Mona Juul, Ambassador of Jordan and Iraq; and her husband Terje Rode-Larsen.
On Friday, Mette-Merritt apologized again in a statement issued by the palace for her relationship with Epstein, specifically to the king and queen. Recent US files show extensive email correspondence with him even after he was convicted of child sex offenses in 2008.
Jogland is also a former chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Jull and Rode-Larsen helped establish the secret channel for communication between the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Israeli government that led to the 1993–1995 Oslo Accords.
All were known to have ties to Epstein, but the new files offer many more details.
A majority party in Norway’s parliament appears ready to support an independent investigation by the foreign ministry, Norwegian media reported. However, the daily VG said that Prime Minister Jonas Gahr would prefer parliament to conduct an investigation into Stowe.
Norway’s economic crime police unit said Thursday it was investigating Jugland for alleged corruption. Jugland’s lawyer said his client is confident and will cooperate in demonstrating his innocence.
The Foreign Ministry said it would seek to lift the diplomatic immunity Jugland enjoyed as head of the Council of Europe from 2009 to 2019 to allow the police investigation.
The Council of Europe said it conducted an internal investigation in December and January, prompted by the Epstein files released in November, and “further action will be taken as necessary”.
Juul did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to the ministry, which suspended him while he spoke of an internal investigation.
Rod-Larsen’s attorney said his client is not suspected of any criminal wrongdoing and is ready to cooperate fully with authorities. He said Royd-Larsen, 78, was in rehabilitation after a stroke and was having difficulty speaking and writing.
Brent said he was unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities before first meeting him in 2018, and regrets not investigating him more thoroughly.
Mette-Marit, 52, suffers from chronic lung disease and the palace said she is currently unable to express herself as she wishes.
Norway’s royal family is already facing several challenges. Mette-Marit’s son Marius from her previous marriage to Crown Prince Haakon is currently on trial for rape and domestic violence.
