The "Epstein" files are full of names of famous Norwegians - from Princess Mette-Marit, to a former prime minister, to a top diplomat. Why are so many Norwegians involved in the scandal?
For two weeks, news broadcasts in Norway have dealt with almost nothing but the latest developments in the "Epstein" affair, writes the German public broadcaster ARD. The reason: the documents on the case, released by the US Department of Justice, contain the names of many famous Norwegians.
"In the early days, the focus was on Princess Mette-Marit. But then this was overshadowed by the debate about Thorbjørn Jagland, former prime minister and secretary general of the Council of Europe. Subsequently, it was mainly about Terry Rod Larsen, a former politician from the Labor Party, and his wife Mona Jull," explains political scientist Iver Neumann to the German public media.
Issues related to an alleged will
Mona Jull was among the leading diplomats in the country for a long time. According to Norwegian media, Epstein bequeathed her children as much as ten million, reports ARD. Because of this, Jull resigned from her post as Norwegian ambassador to Jordan and Iraq at the end of last week. In the meantime, the Special Service for Combating Economic Crime is investigating her and her husband.
"Based on the information in the so-called "Epstein" files "There is a suspicion of serious corruption," the head of the service, Pal Lonseth, told Norwegian radio. "That's why we got legal permission to search her home in Oslo. And we did."
There is also the suspicion that Epstein put pressure on the previous owner of the home to sell the luxury property to Rod Larsen and his wife for far less than its real price. Juhl is being investigated for corruption, and her husband for aiding and abetting, the German public media outlet explains.
Scandalous cases and the age factor
Last week, the service launched investigations into Thorbjorn Jagland, the Social Democrat who is also believed to have maintained close ties with Epstein. Jagland was Prime Minister of Norway in the late 1990s, then Foreign Minister, Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and from 2009 to 2019 Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
To facilitate the investigations, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry has requested the lifting of the immunity that Jagland enjoys as the former head of the international organization. Norwegian media reports that this has already been done.
"However, it must be borne in mind that Thorbjorn Jagland is now 75 years old," notes political scientist Iver Neumann. "Terry Rod Larsen had a stroke, and Mona Yul was just about to retire. Politically explosive, however, is the case of Mette-Marit, who is about to become Queen of Norway."
Contacts between Mette-Marit and Epstein
The name of the Crown Princess appears hundreds of times in the files on the "Epstein" case. She exchanged private emails with the financier and sex offender for years - and this after he was first convicted of sexual assault against minors and served his sentence.
The 52-year-old princess apologized in writing, ARD reports. "It is important for me to apologize to everyone I have disappointed", says Mette-Marit in a statement on Friday. She categorically distanced herself from Epstein's abuses and criminal actions and expressed regret for not understanding what kind of person he was earlier.
What actions will be taken
From now on, Epstein's contacts with the Foreign Ministry and other authorities in Oslo will be reviewed. For this purpose, a parliamentary oversight committee has been established, which has already taken the first steps towards forming an independent investigative committee.
There is unity between the parties regarding the need for such a body, opposition politician Andersen Sayed told ARD. "It is important to get to the root of the contacts between Epstein and certain circles in Norway. Who knew what and why was all this not revealed earlier? The question is very serious, since leading representatives of the authorities maintained close ties with him and received personal benefits from it."