Police in Norway have opened a corruption investigation into the country's former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland over his alleged links to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
A special Norwegian police unit which is analysing newly released Epstein files in the US said the 75-year-old was suspected of aggravated corruption.
Police said they had already asked the country's foreign ministry to lift his immunity, which he enjoys because of his past role as a senior foreign diplomat. Jagland is also a former head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and spent 10 years as secretary general of the Council of Europe.
His lawyer said they would fully cooperate with the investigation. Pål K. Lønseth, head of Økokrim - the economic crime unit investigating Jagland - said: We consider there are reasonable grounds for investigation, given that he held the positions of chair of the Nobel Committee and Secretary General of the Council of Europe during the period covered by the released documents.
Among other things, Økokrim will investigate whether gifts, travel and loans were received in connection with his position. The police added that further details would be provided at a later stage.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stated it was important that the facts of this case are brought to light, indicating that Oslo would seek to revoke Jagland's immunity from the Council of Europe.
Jagland's lawyer, Anders Brosveet, expressed confidence in the outcome of the investigation, stating, Based on what we have found so far, we are confident of the outcome. They also plan to submit key findings and documentation to Økokrim as soon as possible.
Jagland served as Norway's prime minister from 1996 to 1997, and as secretary general of the Council of Europe from 2009 to 2019. He chaired the Norwegian Nobel Committee from 2009 to 2015.
