Norwegian police have launched an investigation into Thorbjørn Jagland, the country’s former prime minister and once head of the committee that awards the Nobel Peace Prize, on suspicion of aggravated corruption over dealings with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Jagland, who was Norway’s prime minister in the 1990s and secretary-general of the Council of Europe and Nobel Committee for a decade each, exchanged multiple emails with Epstein, including on the possibility of his family staying at an island belonging to the disgraced financier, according to documents released last week by the US Department of Justice.

Norwegian law enforcement officers are also looking into whether gifts, travel expenses and loans were received from Epstein in connection with Jagland’s positions.

“We consider there are reasonable grounds for investigation, given that he held the positions of chair of the Nobel Committee and secretary-general of the Council of Europe during the period covered by the released documents,” said Pål Lønseth, head of the unit that investigates and prosecutes economic crimes, on Thursday.

Norway’s government immediately said it would apply to revoke Jagland’s immunity from the Council of Europe for acts carried out as secretary-general.

Espen Barth Eide, Norway’s foreign minister, said: “It is important that the facts of this case are brought to light. That means Mr Jagland’s immunity cannot stand in the way of an investigation.”

Jagland in November said his contact with Epstein was “part of normal diplomatic activity”. But after the latest release of emails and documents, Jagland said at the weekend that he had shown “bad judgment”.

His lawyer Sigurd Klomsæt earlier this week said he and Jagland would review the allegations “as soon as possible”.

“It has also been revealed that there is reason to further investigate the authenticity of the material presented,” he added, without giving more information.

Another of Jagland’s lawyers told local media on Thursday that he welcomed the investigation, which should give an “authoritative decision rather than the entire press conducting their own private little probe”.

Epstein, who was convicted of soliciting underage prostitution in 2008, died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors.

The Epstein scandal has shaken Norway’s elite. The rich Scandinavian country’s crown princess, its former foreign minister who now heads the World Economic Forum and prominent diplomats were all named in the most recently released emails.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has said that Jagland and Crown Princess Mette-Marit had shown bad judgment.

Støre added on Thursday evening that the latest investigation “underlines the seriousness of the case”.

The WEF, which hosts its annual meetings in the Swiss resort of Davos, earlier on Thursday announced it had started an investigation into its chief executive, Børge Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister. Brende has said he regretted the contact with Epstein but did not know about his criminal background.

He said he ate dinner three times with Epstein and others, but the recently released documents showed he exchanged multiple messages with the sex offender as well.

Mette-Marit earlier this week said she had shown poor judgment in her dealings with Epstein.

(Source: Finantial Times)