Norway Charges Former Nobel Chief Over Epstein Ties
Økokrim charged former Nobel committee chair Thorbjørn Jagland after Justice Department files show Jeffrey Epstein touted his ties to entice elites.
Overview
Økokrim charged Thorbjørn Jagland with "aggravated corruption" and searched his Oslo residence plus properties in Risør and Rauland in an investigation prompted by information in Justice Department files.
The released files show Jeffrey Epstein repeatedly promoted his ties to Jagland, who chaired the Norwegian Nobel Committee from 2009 to 2015, while hosting him at properties in New York and Paris.
Jagland's attorneys at Elden law firm said he denies the charges, and Økokrim questioned him on Thursday, officials said.
The documents mention Jagland hundreds of times and include Epstein messages to figures such as Steve Bannon (September 2018), Richard Branson (2013), Larry Summers (2012), Bill Gates (2014) and Kathy Ruemmler (2015).
Økokrim said it will investigate whether gifts, travel and loans were received in connection with Jagland's position, and Terje Rød-Larsen and his wife are also facing corruption charges linked to Epstein.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as Epstein leveraging Nobel prestige to access elites, using evaluative language that notes he emphasized ties, selecting email and text excerpts that highlight name‑dropping, and stressing investigations and searches. They foreground connections and charges while noting absence of direct lobbying evidence, producing a cautious, suspicious narrative.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Økokrim charged Thorbjørn Jagland with 'aggravated corruption' based on Justice Department files showing Epstein's ties to him.
History
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