Norwegian police search home of former PM Jagland over ties to Epstein

Norwegian police have searched the homes and properties of former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland, who was revealed to have been in close contact with U.S. billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein and is under investigation for corruption on suspicion of having received expensive gifts from him. The searches, carried out by Okokrim, the Norwegian police unit for combating corruption and financial crime, came one day after the Council of Europe decided to lift Jagland's diplomatic immunity at Norway's request.

Jagland's lawyer, Anders Brosveet, stated, "Okokrim is currently searching Jagland's residence and properties used for vacations. This is an expected situation and a standard part of an investigation of this nature." The lawyer noted that Jagland is accused of aggravated corruption and stated that his client wants the matter clarified, adding, "We will participate in the process and continue full cooperation with the authorities."

In a statement released by Okokrim, it was noted that police searched Jagland's home in the capital, Oslo, as well as his properties on the country's southern coast and near the mountainous Telemark county. Okokrim Chief Paal Loenseth said in a statement to the press, "As a result of the search, Jagland is accused of aggravated corruption. He will be brought in for questioning by Okokrim."

Jagland's past contacts with Epstein

The Norwegian police's decision to launch an investigation into Jagland came after information emerged in documents recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding Epstein. The new documents showed that Jagland had made plans in 2014 to visit Palm Beach, Florida, and the island owned by Epstein with his wife, two children, and his son's girlfriend.

It was also revealed that Jagland, who previously served as Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, had asked Epstein for help in financing an apartment in Oslo in a 2014 email. In a 2018 correspondence, it was seen that Epstein had asked Jagland to arrange a meeting between himself and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and explained that he had some views he wanted to present to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Jagland had stated that he never went to Epstein's private island, which has been the subject of conspiracy theories.

Millions of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice under transparency laws led to the exposure of the relationships that Epstein, who was accused of sex trafficking and the sexual abuse of underage girls, had established with the most influential businesspeople and politicians in the U.S. and Europe. Shortly after his arrest in 2019, Epstein died by suicide in the prison where he was being held while awaiting trial.