Former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland has been charged with gross corruption over his ties with the US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to police reports.
The charge came after the Council of Europe lifted Jagland's immunity, which he had enjoyed due to his prior diplomatic role. His lawyer asserts that Jagland denies any criminal liability and is willing to cooperate with the authorities.
Emails released by the US government suggest that Jagland made arrangements for personal and family visits to Epstein’s residences in Paris, New York, and Palm Beach after Epstein was convicted of a child sex offense. In light of these revelations, three properties owned by Jagland have been searched by Norway's Økokrim crime unit, and he is now expected to face questioning.
Jagland served as Prime Minister from 1996 to 1997, was the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and spent ten years as the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, a position that granted him diplomatic immunity during his tenure from 2009 to 2019. However, Økokrim's request for the Council to revoke his immunity led to the current developments as a criminal investigation into allegations of gross corruption between 2011 and 2018 began.
The Epstein files indicate instances where Epstein covered travel expenses for Jagland and his family, with plans for a family trip to Epstein's Caribbean island in 2014 ultimately canceled due to Epstein's illness. Moreover, Jagland allegedly sought Epstein's assistance in securing a bank loan, although it's unclear if this request was fulfilled. While the presence of Jagland's name in Epstein's documents does not automatically imply wrongdoing, public scrutiny has intensified.
Following last month's release of new files by the US Department of Justice concerning Epstein—which included millions of private emails and reports—more figures in Norway have been implicated, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit, diplomats, and leaders from various sectors. Mette-Marit has publicly apologized for her past friendship with Epstein, and additional investigations are ongoing into other notable individuals connected to the scandal.
