Norwegian political elite justifies itself before parliament for ties with Jeffrey Epstein

The Parliament's Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs is reviewing the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the distribution of international aid funds, internal control mechanisms, and the possible influence of personal connections on government decisions. The hearings are scheduled for two days — September 30 and October 1.

Støre, who headed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2012, stated that he never had a relationship with Epstein. According to him, the identified problems are related to the actions of individuals, not a systemic failure of the ministry. He also stated that some people who were friends with Epstein demonstrated very inappropriate behavior.

One of the main questions of the hearings was the funding of the International Peace Institute in New York (IPI), which was led for many years by Norwegian diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen. After the publication of documents about Epstein, deputies were interested both in the institute head's connections with the financier and how the organization received state funds from Norway.

Former Ministers of International Development Erik Solheim and Heikki Eidsvoll Holmås were the first to speak at the hearings. Both admitted that it was easier for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allocate funds that could be classified as development aid. Holmås explained the support for American think tanks by the desire to influence US foreign policy.

Solheim rejected the notion that IPI enjoyed special treatment due to personal connections. He also stated that, to his knowledge, he had never met Epstein.

Among those summoned to the hearings is former Foreign Minister Børge Brende, who in February resigned as head of the World Economic Forum after his contacts with Epstein were revealed. According to Dagbladet, they met at least three times. Brende claimed he was unaware of the financier's criminal past. He later apologized for initially not telling journalists about shared dinners, correspondence, and emails.

Former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland was not summoned to the hearings. A separate investigation is underway against him on suspicion of aggravated corruption. The chairman of the parliamentary committee, Per-Willy Amundsen, explained that the deputies have no intention of interfering with the investigation.

In parallel, an independent seven-person commission, established by parliament in the spring, is at work. It is tasked with verifying whether personal connections, management practices, and Norway's state mechanisms have made the government vulnerable to undue influence.

The commission's investigation covers more than 30 years — starting with the 1993 Oslo Accords between Israel and Palestine. It is expected to submit its final report by January 31, 2028. Commission head Amund Djøve emphasized that conclusions will be drawn after reviewing documents and interviewing participants in the events.

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