Norway’s Ambassador to Jordan Resigns Amid Epstein Controversy

OSLO, Norway – Norway’s ambassador to Jordan, who played a role in the 1990s peace efforts between Israel and Palestine, has resigned after facing scrutiny over her interactions with Jeffrey Epstein, as announced by the Foreign Ministry.

The Ministry disclosed Mona Jul’s resignation on Sunday evening, following her suspension as ambassador just days before. This situation gained traction after reports surfaced about Epstein bequeathing $10 million to the children of Jul and her husband, Terje Rod Larsen, shortly before his 2019 suicide in a New York prison.

Foreign Minister Espen Wald Eide stated that Jul’s resignation was a “correct and necessary” decision. He emphasized that her contact with a convicted sex offender reflected a “serious error in judgment,” making it challenging to rebuild the trust essential for her position.

Eide mentioned that the investigation into Jul’s awareness of and interactions with Epstein will proceed, and she will continue consulting with the Foreign Ministry “to clarify the matter.”

The ministry has also initiated a review of its funding and communications with the International Peace Research Institute, located in New York, during the time Rod Larsen was the director. Eide noted that Larsen’s decisions regarding Epstein were also questionable.

Rod Larsen and Jul were instrumental in the Oslo Accords, aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during the 1990s.

In a recent statement to Norwegian news agency NTB, Jul acknowledged that describing her contact with Epstein as minimal was “inaccurate.” She clarified that her interactions were linked to her husband’s relationship with Epstein, asserting that she had no independent social or professional ties with him.

She stated that her contact with Epstein was infrequent and private, not relating to her official duties, but admitted she should have exercised more caution.

The new revelations regarding Epstein have cast a spotlight on several prominent figures in Norway. Crown Princess Mette-Marit issued an apology recently to those she disappointed after it was revealed that she had connections with Epstein.

Furthermore, the Economic Crimes Bureau of Norway has launched a corruption probe into former Prime Minister Torbjorn Jagland, who also led the Nobel Peace Prize committee, due to his ties to Epstein. His lawyer indicated that Jagland is willing to cooperate.