Norwegian police raid ex-PM’s homes in Epstein-linked corruption probe

Norwegian police have conducted searches of properties owned by former Prime Minister and Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland amid a corruption investigation related to his interactions with US financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, France 24 reports.

The probe was launched after documents released by the US Justice Department in January suggested that Jagland and members of his family stayed or vacationed with Epstein between 2011 and 2018. Epstein, who died in US custody in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking, referred to Jagland in correspondence as “the Nobel big shot.”

Pal Lønseth, chief of the specialised Økokrim economic crimes unit, confirmed that Jagland’s Oslo residence was searched and that he is now formally suspected of “aggravated corruption.” “Økokrim also conducted searches at two other properties in Risør and Rauland,” Lønseth added. The searches were facilitated by the lifting of Jagland’s immunity by the Council of Europe on Wednesday.

Television footage showed personnel carrying boxes from Jagland’s Oslo apartment while he left the premises smiling with his lawyer. His lawyer, Anders Brosveet, described the searches as “expected and standard procedure in these types of investigations,” adding, “Jagland wishes to contribute to ensuring that the case is thoroughly clarified, and the next step is that he will appear for questioning by Økokrim — as he himself has stated he wants.”

In a letter to the Council of Europe requesting the lifting of his immunity, Økokrim said it is investigating whether benefits Jagland received could constitute “passive bribery.” The agency cited instances in which Jagland and his family used Epstein’s properties in Paris, New York, and Palm Beach, Florida, with at least one trip’s expenses for six adults reportedly covered by Epstein. Økokrim also noted that Jagland sought Epstein’s assistance in securing a bank loan, though it remains unclear whether it materialized.

Previously, Jagland defended his contacts with Epstein as normal diplomatic activity but admitted this month to newspaper Aftenposten that he had shown “poor judgement.”

The case is part of a broader fallout from the release of nearly three million documents related to Epstein, implicating prominent Norwegians including Crown Princess Mette-Marit, former foreign minister Børge Brende, and ex-PM Kjell Magne Bondevik. Investigations have also been opened into high-profile diplomat Mona Juul and her husband Terje Rod-Larsen for suspected complicity.

By Vafa Guliyeva