Norway's parliament launches hearings on ties to Jeffrey Epstein

The Norwegian Parliament is launching public hearings this week to investigate connections between Norwegian politicians, diplomats, and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The probe follows the release of millions of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice in January, which exposed Epstein's extensive international network involving various political and business elites.

The Parliamentary Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs has summoned 11 current and former ministers of foreign affairs and international development to testify. Among those requested to appear is Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, who served as foreign minister between 2005 and 2012; Store has officially denied having any personal relationship with Epstein. Committee head Jonas Andersen Sayed emphasized that the investigation is necessary to restore public trust in the country's diplomatic service, noting that several individuals demonstrated poor judgment in their associations.

Context for the inquiry includes the resignation of former Foreign Minister Boerge Brende, who stepped down as president of the World Economic Forum following revelations about his friendly ties to Epstein, though Brende claimed he was unaware of the financier's criminal history at the time. The hearings are expected to determine the extent of these high-level interactions and their implications for Norwegian governance.