Norway’s parliament agrees to an independent inquiry into elite ties with Jeffrey Epstein, following revelations from millions of released documents.
OSLO: Norway’s parliament has agreed to establish an independent commission to investigate links between convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and prominent Norwegians.
The decision follows the release of nearly three million documents by US authorities, which revealed closer ties than previously known.
“It is absolutely crucial that trust in the Norwegian foreign service, the political sphere, and Norwegian democracy is maintained,” said lawmaker Per-Willy Amundsen, who heads a constitutional oversight committee.
He told broadcaster NRK the seriousness of recent revelations was grave and cast earlier events in a new light.
The commission’s specific mandate, composition, and timetable are yet to be determined.
The Green Party, which supports the Labour government, has proposed Franco-Norwegian former judge Eva Joly as chair.
The released documents illuminated extensive contact between Epstein and Norway’s elite, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
Between 2011 and 2014, the crown princess and Epstein exchanged hundreds of emails with an intimate tone.
She maintained the friendship even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor.
Norwegian police have opened investigations into aggravated corruption against several high-profile figures.
Those under investigation include former prime minister Thorbjorn Jagland and diplomat Mona Juul, along with her husband Terje Rod-Larsen for complicity.
The probe into Jagland focuses on his ties to Epstein while he chaired the Nobel Committee and led the Council of Europe.
The investigation into Juul examines her connections to Epstein during her tenure at Oslo’s foreign ministry before she became UN ambassador.
The World Economic Forum is reviewing its CEO, former Norwegian foreign minister Borge Brende, who met Epstein several times in 2018 and 2019.
Several figures had previously downplayed their relationships with Epstein but have since adopted a more apologetic tone.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit issued an apology last week, stating “I deeply regret my friendship with Jeffrey Epstein”.
Exchanges uncovered by Norwegian media suggest some implicated individuals benefited from their relationships with Epstein.
