Norwegian Ambassador Resigns Over Epstein Ties, Former PM Under Investigation

Kathmandu – Norwegian Ambassador Mona Juul has resigned following revelations about her contact with Jeffrey Epstein. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided this information.

Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide described Juul’s resignation as “right and necessary,” stating that her contact with Epstein demonstrated a “serious failure of judgment” and made it difficult to restore the level of trust required for the position.

According to the ministry’s statement, Juul was relieved of her duties last week while the ministry reviewed her knowledge of and contact with Epstein.

The ministry stated that its internal fact-finding will continue even after Juul’s resignation, with particular attention paid to the rules that apply to state employees and officials both during and outside of their service.

In a separate matter, the ministry said it has launched a review of its grants to and contacts with the International Peace Institute during the period when Juul’s husband, Terje Rod-Larsen, led the organization. The ministry described information regarding Rod-Larsen’s contact with Epstein as “very extensive” and “highly concerning.”

Epstein, who died in 2019, was an American financier convicted of sex trafficking. The U.S. Department of Justice announced on January 30 that it had published over 3 million additional pages of material under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

Based on this case, Norway’s National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Økokrim) announced on Thursday that it has opened an investigation into former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland on suspicion of aggravated corruption. Jagland has previously served as the Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.