Norway Parliament Questions 11 Officials Over Epstein Ties and IPI Funding
On Wednesday, Norway's parliament commenced hearings involving current and former ministers to evaluate the practices of the diplomatic service, prompted by revelations concerning ties between Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased US sex offender, and high-ranking Norwegian officials. A total of eleven officials, including Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, are set to provide testimony before a committee. These hearings emerge after it was disclosed that the foreign ministry allocated over 130 million kroner to the International Peace Institute (IPI) from 1997 to 2018. Terje Rod-Larsen, who directed the IPI from 2005 to 2020, is linked to Epstein, along with his spouse Mona Juul, who played a role in the 1993 Oslo Accords. Norwegian authorities are probing Juul for "aggravated corruption" and Rod-Larsen for "complicity in aggravated corruption," both of whom assert their innocence. The hearings will investigate the foreign ministry's financial contributions to the IPI and overall diplomatic practices.
Key facts
- Norway's parliament began hearings on Wednesday.
- A total of 11 officials, including Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, will speak before a committee.
- The hearings examine practices in the diplomatic service.
- They follow revelations about ties between Jeffrey Epstein and senior Norwegian officials.
- The foreign ministry paid more than 130 million kroner to the International Peace Institute (IPI) between 1997 and 2018.
- Terje Rod-Larsen headed the IPI from 2005 to 2020.
- The Epstein files shed light on ties between Epstein and Rod-Larsen and his wife Mona Juul.
- Rod-Larsen and Juul are under investigation in Norway – she for "aggravated corruption" and he for "complicity in aggravated corruption"; both deny wrongdoing.
Entities
Artists
- Jonas Gahr Store
- Jeffrey Epstein
- Terje Rod-Larsen
- Mona Juul
Institutions
- Norway's parliament
- International Peace Institute (IPI)
- Norwegian foreign ministry
Locations
- Norway
- Oslo