Norway Parliament Begins Hearings on Diplomatic Service Practices and Epstein Ties
Hearings examine diplomatic practices following revelations of ties between late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and senior Norwegian officials.
Quick Look
Norway's parliament began hearings examining diplomatic service practices amid investigations into ties between late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and senior Norwegian officials, including Terje Rod-Larsen and Mona Juul.
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Why It Matters
Foreign ministry paid over 130 million kroner to the International Peace Institute between 1997 and 2018.
Norway’s parliament began hearings on Wednesday of current and former ministers to examine practices in the diplomatic service, following revelations about ties between late US convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and senior Norwegian officials.
The hearings come against the background of the foreign ministry’s payment of more than 130 million kroner to the International Peace Institute (IPI) between 1997 and 2018, a think tank headed by Norwegian diplomat Terje Rod-Larsen from 2005 to 2020.
The Epstein files have shed light on ties between the US financier and Rod-Larsen and his diplomat wife Mona Juul, the architects of the 1993 Oslo Accords who are now under investigation in Norway – she for “aggravated corruption” and he for “complicity in aggravated corruption”.
The couple denies any wrongdoing.
Open Questions
- What will be the outcome of the parliamentary hearings?
- Will the investigation result in formal charges against Rod-Larsen and Juul?
