Norway’s Parliament initiated a public hearing to examine potential ties between 11 current and former high-ranking government officials and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The inquiry was prompted by millions of documents released by the US Department of Justice in January, which detailed connections between Epstein and prominent figures globally.
The investigation centers on allegations that the Foreign Ministry allocated over 130 million kroner to the International Peace Institute spanning from 1997 to 2018. The institution was headed by Terje Rod-Larsen, a prominent Norwegian diplomat and key figure in negotiating the 1993 Oslo Accords, during his tenure from 2005 to 2020. Norwegian media investigations have implicated Rod-Larsen in alleged misconduct involving illicit loans and visa fraud related to sex-trafficked women. Additionally, Epstein’s will reportedly included substantial sums for Rod-Larsen’s children.
Prime Minister Stoere, who served as foreign minister from 2005 to 2012, testified before Parliament’s Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs on Wednesday, denying any personal relationship with Epstein. He characterized the issues as isolated incidents rather than systemic problems within the Foreign Ministry and stated that Epstein had no influence over Norway’s foreign policy or development aid decisions. Meanwhile, former development minister Erik Solheim contended that the parliamentary probe represents an overreaction that could inhibit diplomatic work.
Several other prominent Norwegians with alleged Epstein connections—including former premier Thorbjoern Jagland, Rod-Larsen, and his wife Mona Juul—face police investigations on corruption charges, though all have denied wrongdoing. Committee chair Jonas Andersen Sayed emphasized that the matter raises critical questions about government accountability and public trust. Parliament has also established an independent inquiry tasked with conducting a comprehensive examination of the case, with a final report due by January 31, 2028.
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