NewsNorwegian police search former PM Jagland’s properties over Epstein tiesPal Lonseth, chief of the specialised Okokrim economic crimes unit, says Jagland suspected of ‘aggravated corruption’.
Norwegian authorities have conducted searches of properties owned by former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland as part of an ongoing corruption investigation. This investigation is linked to Jagland's associations with the late Jeffrey Epstein.
Norwegian authorities have conducted searches of properties owned by former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland as part of an ongoing corruption investigation. This investigation is linked to Jagland's associations with the late Jeffrey Epstein.
The inquiry commenced after documents from the US Department of Justice, released in January, suggested that Jagland or his family may have visited Epstein’s residences between 2011 and 2018.
During the investigation, Norwegian television captured footage of investigators removing several boxes from Jagland’s apartment in Oslo.
At the time in question, Jagland, 74, held positions as the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and the secretary-general of the Council of Europe. According to the released documents, Epstein referred to Jagland as “the Nobel big shot.”
This investigation is linked to Jagland's associations with the late Jeffrey Epstein.
The chief of the Okokrim economic crimes unit, Pal Lonseth, confirmed that Jagland's residence in Oslo was searched, and Jagland is now formally suspected of “aggravated corruption.”
Jagland's lawyer, Anders Brosveet, verified the searches, describing them as standard procedure in such investigations. Brosveet noted that Jagland intends to cooperate fully with the investigation, including an upcoming questioning by Okokrim.
The searches were authorized by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, which waived Jagland’s diplomatic immunity following a request from Norwegian authorities. The police are investigating whether benefits received by Jagland could constitute "passive bribery."
Okokrim has noted multiple instances from 2011 to 2018 where Jagland or his family used Epstein’s properties in Paris, New York, and Palm Beach, Florida. It was recorded that for at least one vacation, travel expenses for six adults were covered by Epstein.
Jagland previously claimed that his interactions with Epstein were part of routine diplomatic engagements. However, he recently acknowledged to the newspaper Aftenposten that he exhibited “poor judgement.”
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.