Norway questions ministers over Epstein ties and aid funding
Norway’s parliament opened public hearings involving 11 current and former officials after disclosures about diplomatic figures’ ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre testified as lawmakers examined Foreign Ministry practices and public grants. Police investigations into several diplomats are separate. The hearing brings the handling of development aid and accountability in the foreign service before parliament, without issuing criminal verdicts.
Geopolitics··Midday
Eleven officials face parliamentary questions
Norway’s parliament began public hearings on September 30 involving 11 current and former foreign or development ministers. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre testified before its Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs. The examination covers Foreign Ministry practices, public grants and diplomatic figures’ links to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted US sex offender. The hearings follow the US Justice Department’s release of millions of Epstein-related documents in January.[1], [2]
Aid payments draw scrutiny
The Foreign Ministry allocated more than 130 million kroner to the International Peace Institute between 1997 and 2018. The think tank linked to the United Nations was headed by Norwegian diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen from 2005 to 2020; he helped negotiate the 1993 Oslo Accords. Støre, foreign minister from 2005 to 2012, denied wrongdoing and said he had never had a relationship with Epstein. He said Epstein had, to his knowledge, exerted no influence on Norway’s foreign policy or aid decisions.[1]
Committee chair Jonas Andersen Sayed asked the government to outline how it would restore confidence in the foreign service. He raised questions about abuse of office and management of aid funds. Former development minister Erik Solheim called the inquiry an overreaction and argued that excessive restraint by diplomats could harm national interests.[1]
Police cases and the wider inquiry run separately
Police investigations involving former prime minister Thorbjørn Jagland, Rød-Larsen and former diplomat Mona Juul are separate from parliament’s hearings. They deny wrongdoing. Parliament has also created an independent inquiry with a broader remit, whose final report is due on January 31, 2028. The hearings themselves do not issue criminal judgments or sanctions against those appearing.[1], [2]
