Norwegian authorities have searched the properties of former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland after the Council of Europe lifted his immunity as part of an investigation into corruption and his links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The investigation began after the release of documents by the US Department of Justice, which suggested that Jagland and his family had stayed with Epstein between 2011 and 2018, a period when he chaired the Nobel Committee and was secretary general of the Council of Europe.
As Euronews reports, the special economic crimes unit Okokrim has carried out searches at Jagland’s residence and recreational properties. This was confirmed by his lawyer Anders Brosveet in a statement.
On Wednesday, the Council of Europe said it had accepted the request of the Norwegian authorities to lift Jagland’s immunity from legal proceedings that he previously enjoyed.
The Strasbourg-based European human rights organization said this immunity is intended to “protect the independent exercise of official functions” and is not intended for “personal gain.”
Jagland was a controversial figure when he led the Council of Europe and was often accused by Norwegian and international media of being too subservient to Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin.
After its initial invasion of Ukraine and illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia was placed under voting sanctions, but Jagland led efforts in 2019 to restore Moscow’s voting rights.
Russia was finally expelled from the organization after its complete invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Council members and analysts criticized Jagland for giving in to Russian “blackmail.”
Other Epstein connections in Norway
The latest Epstein documents released in January also showed that Crown Princess Mette-Marit, the 52-year-old wife of Crown Prince Haakon, had used an Epstein property in Palm Beach for several days in 2013.
In an email exchange between Epstein and Mette-Marit in 2012, he wrote that he was in Paris “looking for a wife,” but “I prefer Scandinavians.” She replied that the French capital was “good for adultery,” but “Scandinavians” were “better wife material.”
Mette-Marit apologized this month for “the situation I have put the royal family in” and said: “Some of the content of the messages between me and Epstein does not represent the person I want to be.”
Mona Juul, Norway’s former ambassador to Jordan, involved in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts in the 1990s, resigned last weekend after reports said Epstein had left $10 million to her children in a will drawn up shortly before he died.
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said a ministry investigation into its knowledge and contacts with Epstein continues, while Juul will continue to cooperate with Norwegian authorities to clarify the situation.
