Former Norwegian PM Torbjorn Jagland Under Investigation

Norwegian police announced on Thursday that they searched the home of former Prime Minister Torbjorn Jagland as part of a corruption investigation linked to his connections with U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The inquiry stems from documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice in January, indicating that Jagland and possibly members of his family spent time with Epstein between 2011 and 2018.

Jagland served as Prime Minister from 1996 to 1997 and was the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe until 2015, a role in which he also oversaw the committee responsible for selecting Nobel Peace Prize winners.

In the released documents, Epstein referred to Jagland as a “Nobel Prize tycoon.”

According to Pal Ronses, head of Okokrim’s economic crime unit, Jagland’s Oslo home was searched, and he is now formally suspected of “aggravated corruption.”

Okokrim also conducted searches at two other locations in southern Norway, in Rissor and Lauland.

Footage from Norwegian television captured several individuals carrying boxes out of Jagland’s apartment in Oslo. He was seen smiling while leaving with his lawyer.

Ronses noted that the search occurred after the Council of Europe lifted Jagland’s immunity on Wednesday.

Authorities initiated the investigation last week for the 75-year-old Jagland.

In response, Jagland’s lawyer, Anders Broswied, remarked that the search was anticipated and part of standard procedures in cases like this. “Mr. Jagland wants to assist in the thorough investigation and intends to participate in the cross-examination as he has expressed,” Broswied said.

Okokrim’s letter to the Council of Europe requested the lifting of immunity, explaining they were examining whether any advantages Jagland received could be deemed “passive bribery.”

The investigation highlighted instances of Jagland and his family utilizing Epstein’s residences in Paris and New York, as well as stays at his Palm Beach estate from 2011 to 2018.

For at least one holiday, it seemed that travel costs for six adults were covered by Epstein, according to Okokrim. They also noted there was an offer from Epstein to finance travel for six adults to the Caribbean, which Jagland accepted but later canceled.

Furthermore, Jagland supposedly sought Epstein’s help for bank loans, although it’s unclear if this was successful.

Newspaper Verdens Gang (VG) reported on emails suggesting that Epstein had pressured Jagland on multiple occasions to arrange meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Previously, Jagland claimed that his relationship with Epstein was simply part of standard diplomatic relations. However, this month, he told Aftenposten that Epstein exhibited “poor judgment.”

While the investigation’s documents do not inherently suggest misconduct, several other notable Norwegians have faced scrutiny following the release of nearly 3 million documents linked to Epstein, who died in U.S. custody in 2019 while awaiting a trial for sex trafficking.

This has included emails exchanged between Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit and an investor previously convicted of soliciting a minor, alongside names like Borge Brende, the CEO of the World Economic Forum, and former Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik.

Additionally, Norwegian police have opened an “aggravated corruption” inquiry into diplomat Mona Juul and her husband Terje Rod Larsen on the grounds of potential collusion.