Norway police investigate ex-PM Jagland over Epstein links

Summary

• Norwegian police have launched an "aggravated corruption" probe into ex-PM Thorbjorn Jagland’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
• Jagland's roles as Nobel Committee chair and Council of Europe Secretary General are under scrutiny regarding gifts, travel, and loans received.
• Norway's Foreign Minister will request Jagland's immunity be lifted to allow a full investigation, following reports of extensive contact with Epstein.

OSLO - Norway’s police said Feb 5 they had opened an “aggravated corruption” investigation into former prime minister Thorbjorn Jagland over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The country’s foreign minister also said he would ask that Mr Jagland’s immunity as a former head of an international organisation be lifted to facilitate the investigation.

Mr Jagland was prime minister of Norway from 1996 to 1997 and secretary-general of the Council of Europe from 2009 to 2019.

Between January 2009 and March 2015, he also chaired the committee that selects the Nobel Peace Prize winner.

The police “have opened an investigation into... Thorbjorn Jagland, on suspicion of aggravated corruption”, said Norwegian police’s economic crime unit, Okokrim, in a statement.

“We consider there are reasonable grounds for investigation, given that he held the positions of chair of the Nobel Committee and Secretary General of the Council of Europe during the period covered by the released documents,” Okokrim director Pal K. Lonseth said in the statement.

“Among other things, Okokrim will investigate whether gifts, travel and loans were received in connection with his position,” the statement added.

Since Mr Jagland enjoys immunity as the former head of an international organisation – the Council of Europe – they have asked the foreign ministry to lift that immunity, they added.

Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in a statement on Feb 5: “It is important that the facts of this case are brought to light.

“That means Mr Jagland’s immunity cannot stand in the way of an investigation.

“I have therefore decided that Norway will put forward a proposal to the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers that Jagland’s immunity be revoked,” he added.

Norwegian newspaper VG, reported this week that Mr Jagland had extensive contact with Epstein, citing the latest batch of documents
about the late financier released on Jan 30 by the US Justice Department. AFP