Relationship of Thorbjørn Jagland and Jeffrey Epstein

Thorbjørn Jagland (left) and Jeffrey Epstein were in close contact until 2019.

The relationship of former Norwegian prime minister, secretary-general of the Council of Europe, and chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee Thorbjørn Jagland with the American convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has become a major scandal in Norway. Jagland and Epstein maintained a close relationship from 2011 to 2019.[1]

In February 2026, following the release of the Epstein files, Jagland was charged with aggravated corruption over his ties to Epstein.[2]

History

2011–2019

Jagland and Epstein maintained a close relationship from 2011 to 2019.[1] On 3 March 2015, Jagland was demoted by the five-person Norwegian Nobel Committee, which elected Kaci Kullmann Five as its new chair. After the demotion, Jagland continued to serve as an ordinary member of the committee. In 2019, the leader of the committee asked each of the members if any of them had been in contact with Epstein; in 2020, Jagland changed his answer; Epstein and Bill Gates had a meeting with Jagland at his residence in Strasbourg in 2013, according to media in October 2020.[3][4]

In November 2025, emails between Epstein and Jagland were published, including a 28 June 2016 email, where Jagland told Epstein that "If Trump wins in US I'll settle on your island."[5] Epstein also wrote to Jagland suggesting that Jagland should arrange a meeting between Epstein and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov so that Epstein could provide "insight" about Donald Trump.[6] Epstein told associates that Jagland was "not bright", but emphasized his formal positions as useful.[7]

2026

In February 2026, Norwegian police opened a criminal investigation of Jagland for aggravated corruption related to his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.[8][9] In response, Norway's foreign minister, Espen Barth Eide, announced that the Støre cabinet would apply to revoke Jagland's immunity for any acts carried out as secretary-general of the Council of Europe, stating that his immunity could not be allowed to stand in the way of the investigation.[9] On 11 February 2026, the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers waived the immunity.[10][11]

On 12 February 2026, Jagland was charged with aggravated corruption in connection with the probe.[12]

On 24 February 2026 it was reported that Jagland had been hospitalized a week earlier as a result of the stress he experienced due to the investigation and subsequent media coverage.[13] A letter from Jagland's lawyer Anders Brosveet stated that the burden on Jagland, and his immediate family, has been challenging, to such an extent that there is a serious danger to life or health.[14] Initial reports of the event framed it as a suicide attempt, but this was later denied by Jagland's lawyer in a press release.[15] He clarified that while Jagland is hospitalized due to a medical risk, there was a misunderstanding during his conversation with a journalist. The editor of iNyheter, Helge Lurås, responsible for the initial report, claimed their reporting was based on information provided to their journalist by Jagland's lawyer, and that he later changed his position.[16][17]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Derfor er Jagland under etterforskning". NRK. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Norway's former PM charged with gross corruption over Epstein links". BBC. Archived from the original on 13 February 2026. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  3. ^ "DN: Thorbjørn Jagland bekrefter å vært på møte med Epstein". 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Thorbjørn Jagland tok imot Jeffrey Epstein og Bill Gates i sin Strasbourg-residens (DN+) | DN". Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  5. ^ Igel, Luke; Walz, Riley. "jeffrey E.: Re: — Epstein Emails". Jmail. Archived from the original on 27 November 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  6. ^ Cheney, Kyle; Toosi, Nahal (12 November 2025). "Jeffrey Epstein claimed he gave Russians insight into Trump". POLITICO. Archived from the original on 20 December 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Epstein-press: Dette tilbød Jagland". Dagbladet. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Økokrim starter etterforskning mot Thorbjørn Jagland". Aftenposten. Archived from the original on 6 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  9. ^ a b Norway investigates former PM on suspicion of corruption over Epstein ties Archived 10 February 2026 at the Wayback Machine - Financial Times, 5 February 2026
  10. ^ Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers waives immunity of former Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland - Council of Europe, 11 February 2026
  11. ^ "Norway's former PM charged with gross corruption over Epstein links". bbc.com. 12 February 2026. Archived from the original on 13 February 2026. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Former Norway leader charged with corruption after probe into alleged Epstein ties, lawyers say". CNN. Archived from the original on 14 February 2026. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  13. ^ Hammersvik, Even Hæhre (24 February 2026). "Flere medier har skrevet om Jaglands helsetilstand: - Grovt presseetisk overtramp, mener advokaten". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  14. ^ Aabø, Jarle (24 February 2026). "Her er brevet fra Jaglands advokat som «utvalgte redaktører» mottok etter selvmordsforsøket". inyheter.no - Nyheter og aktuelt - Innenriks og Utenriks. (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 24 February 2026. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Uttalelse på vegne av Thorbjørn Jagland / Statement on behalf of Thorbjorn Jagland | Elden Advokatfirma". kommunikasjon.ntb.no (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 25 February 2026. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  16. ^ Tobiassen, Markus; Arntsen, Erlend Ofte (24 February 2026). "Thorbjørn Jagland innlagt på sykehus". VG (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  17. ^ Hammersvik, Even Hæhre (24 February 2026). "Flere medier har skrevet om Jaglands helsetilstand: - Grovt presseetisk overtramp, mener advokaten". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 24 February 2026.
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