Authorities in Norway have initiated an investigation into a prominent diplomat and her husband amid revelations of their ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The diplomat, Mona Juul, stepped down from her role as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq following a suspension triggered by reports that each of her children is set to inherit $5 million from a will purportedly signed by Epstein shortly before his death.
Recently released documents, including emails, indicate that Juul’s husband, Terje Rød-Larsen, dined with Epstein in Paris in mid-2019, just weeks prior to Epstein’s arrest on sex trafficking charges in the United States.
Juul’s legal representative has stated that she does not acknowledge the allegations leveled against her, while Rød-Larsen’s attorney expressed confidence that the probe will demonstrate no grounds for criminal responsibility.
It’s important to note that inclusion in these documents does not imply any misconduct.
Norway’s foreign ministry has described Juul’s interactions with Epstein as a significant error in judgment.
The economic crime unit, Økokrim, has opened an inquiry into potential aggravated corruption, focusing on whether any benefits were linked to her official position. As part of the investigation, a residence in Oslo has been searched.
Juul and Rød-Larsen played key roles in brokering the Oslo Accords between 1993 and 1995, which were hailed as a major step forward in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts at the time.
Reports suggest Rød-Larsen maintained substantial contact with Epstein and facilitated multiple meetings involving Juul.
The broader Epstein files, made public by U.S. authorities last month, encompass extensive private communications, images, and investigative reports related to Epstein, who passed away in 2019 while awaiting trial.
Juul joins a growing list of notable Norwegians implicated in the scandal, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit, former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland, and Borge Brende, the chief executive of the World Economic Forum.
Mette-Marit issued a heartfelt apology to the public for her association with Epstein, revealing they had communicated over a three-year period without her fully grasping his character.
Jagland faces a similar police investigation for suspected aggravated corruption, with his team pledging full cooperation.
The World Economic Forum has commissioned an independent review of Brende’s engagements with Epstein, which included three dinners in 2018 and 2019 along with email and text exchanges. Brende has welcomed the examination.
This unfolding situation underscores the far-reaching impact of Epstein’s network, prompting scrutiny of influential figures across borders.