Norway's Ex-PM Charged with Corruption After Ties with Epstein Revealed

February 13, 2026 | 11:43 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Norway's former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland has been charged with "aggravated corruption" following a police probe into his alleged ties to the late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to the law firm representing him.

Elden Law Firm confirmed to CNN on Thursday that Jagland has been “charged with aggravated corruption,” adding that he “denies all charges.”

Norway's National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Økokrim) said it will question Jagland as part of the ongoing investigation, as reported by Norway's public broadcaster NRK on Thursday.

Investigators said they are examining “whether gifts, travel and loans were received in connection with his position.” Jagland served as prime minister from 1996 to 1997, as well as Norway's foreign minister and the secretary general of the Council of Europe.

Jagland's Residence Raided

Norwegian police raided several of Jagland's residences on Thursday as reported by Anadolu.

Jagland, who also served as the secretary general of the Council of Europe and the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, is now a suspect in a large-scale corruption investigation.

"As an automatic consequence of the search, Jagland now has the formal status of a suspect," Jagland's defense lawyer, Anders Brosveet, told NRK.

Jagland's lawyers stated that the search conducted at the former prime minister's  “home and leisure properties” are “a normal part of an investigation of this type.”

“Jagland wants to contribute to the case being thoroughly investigated, and the next step is that he will appear for questioning at Økokrim," they added.

The Okokrim search was conducted a day after the Council of Europe's Ministerial Committee lifted Jagland's immunity following a request from the Norwegian authorities to proceed with legal process.

Suspicions of gross corruption arose after the recent release of millions of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice, revealing years-long contacts between Jagland and the financier. The Norwegian politician was reportedly offered luxurious travel and accommodation, according to NRK.

The US agency released over 3 million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law last November.

Epstein was found dead in a New York City jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. In 2008, he pleaded guilty and was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution, but critics called the relatively lenient sentence a "sweetheart deal."

His victims accused him of running a wide-ranging sex trafficking network used by wealthy and politically powerful individuals. They also criticized the recent file release, stating that it was heavily redacted, with many crucial documents missing.

Norwegian Royalty

The charges against Jagland come as the Norwegian royal family faces scandals on various fronts, with a charity this week seeking to sever or review ties with the crown princess over her past contacts with Epstein.

The newly released Epstein files also revealed extensive correspondence between Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Epstein—something the princess later regretted—years after the businessman pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from a minor.

Last week, the Norwegian royal family stated that Mette-Marit strongly disavows Epstein’s abuse and criminal acts” and is sorry for “not having understood early enough what kind of person he was.”

This controversy has sparked open public discussions in Norway about whether Mette-Marit should become queen, experts said.

It has also raised uncomfortable questions about her position within the royal family, especially given the advanced age of King Harald V, who at 88 is the oldest reigning monarch in Europe.

Harald's physical health has deteriorated in recent years, leading his son, Crown Prince Haakon, to act as regent on several occasions.

Read: Epstein Files Show Norwegian Ex-PM's Ties to Sex Offender

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

Epstein Files Show Norwegian Ex-PM's Ties to Sex Offender

7 hari lalu

Epstein Files Reveal Close Contact with Norway Princess

11 hari lalu

Epstein Files: Norway's Crown Princess Says 'Embarrassing'

12 hari lalu

Norway Pushes Transparency in Political Funding at CoSP11 Doha

59 hari lalu

UK, Norway Establish Joint Fleet to Track Russian Submarines

5 Desember 2025

Why Italy Are Struggling Yet Again on the Road to the 2026 World Cup

17 November 2025

Erling Haaland Leads Norway Back to the World Cup After 28-Year Dry Spell

17 November 2025

Portugal and Norway Qualify for 2026 World Cup

17 November 2025

Gas Prices Around the World, from Cheapest to Most Expensive

13 November 2025

Exploring Filming Locations of 'The Woman in Cabin 10': From England's Shores to Norway's Fjords

13 Oktober 2025