Norway's parliament has initiated public hearings to investigate connections between the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Norwegian politicians and diplomats. This development follows the release of millions of documents related to Epstein, which revealed his ties to politicians, royals, and wealthy individuals globally. The hearings, conducted by the parliament's Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs, aim to address growing scrutiny of prominent Norwegians whose relationships with Epstein have emerged from the files.
The committee has summoned 11 current and former foreign and development ministers, including Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, who served as foreign minister between 2005 and 2012. Stoere has stated that he never had any relationship with Epstein and argued that the issues involved a few individuals rather than a systemic problem within Norway's foreign ministry. He claimed that some of the identified issues had already been addressed, including through updated rules concerning conflicts of interest.
Stoere emphasized that, as far as he was aware, Epstein had exercised no influence over Norway's foreign policy, development aid policy, or other government decisions. He also acknowledged that even the best system provides no complete guarantee against errors being made, whether intentional or unintentional. Former Norwegian Foreign Minister Boerge Brende also appeared before the hearing, stating that his contacts with Epstein were limited to three dinners and exchanges via email and SMS.
Brende, who resigned as president and chief executive of the World Economic Forum after revelations about his relationship with Epstein, took responsibility for not researching Epstein more thoroughly. He apologized for denying in November 2025 that he had met Epstein when questioned by Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, saying, "I am sorry I was not honest at first." Several other prominent Norwegians with reported ties to Epstein are also facing scrutiny.
Former prime minister Thorbjoern Jagland, former minister Terje Roed-Larsen, and former diplomat Mona Juul are under police investigation over corruption accusations. All three have denied wrongdoing. Norway's Queen Mette-Marit, who is married to King Haakon, has apologized for her friendship with Epstein but is not appearing before the parliamentary hearing.
The parliamentary hearing is led by Jonas Andersen Sayed, who noted that many people have demonstrated very poor judgment regarding their relationships with Epstein. The committee has also appointed an external commission of academics and legal experts to investigate matters raised by the Epstein files and examine ways of improving the integrity and transparency of Norwegian authorities.
The commission's investigation covers more than 30 years of Norwegian diplomatic history, with its findings expected in early 2028. The Norwegian government has faced pressure to explain how it intends to restore confidence in the country's foreign service. The hearings aim to address these concerns and provide clarity on the extent of Epstein's influence on Norwegian politics and diplomacy.
Key points
- Norway's parliament holds public hearings into links between Jeffrey Epstein and Norwegian politicians and diplomats.
- Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and former Foreign Minister Boerge Brende have appeared before the hearing, denying wrongdoing.
- An external commission has been appointed to investigate matters raised by the Epstein files and improve the integrity and transparency of Norwegian authorities.
