Khaberni - Norwegian police searched the home of former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland in Oslo, on Thursday, suspecting his involvement in "aggravated corruption", due to his ties with convicted American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.
His lawyer Anders Brosveet stated in a press release that the Financial Crimes Unit is currently conducting searches at Thorbjørn Jagland’s home and his secondary residences, highlighting that his client "wishes to fully clarify this case".
The unit also confirmed in a statement that it had raided two other properties belonging to Jagland in the south of the country.
Jagland's name (75 years old) and his family appeared in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice in late January related to the Epstein case, revealing that either he or his family had stayed or vacationed at Epstein’s home between 2011 and 2018.
Immunity lifted
Jagland briefly served as Prime Minister of Norway for just about a year, specifically between October 1996 and October 1997, chaired the Nobel Committee that awards the Peace Prize between 2009 and 2015, and was the Secretary General of the Council of Europe from 2009 to 2019.
The Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, announced on Wednesday that diplomatic immunity that had covered Jagland, which included actions taken in the course of his duties even after his term ended, had been lifted, in light of his being investigated for previous relationships with Epstein.
The current Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Swiss Alan Perchiah stated that lifting Jagland’s immunity "will enable the Norwegian judiciary to perform its role, and Mr. Jagland to defend himself in case of prosecution."
While lawyer Brosveet mentioned that the lifting of immunity was expected and that he "will cooperate with the investigation," emphasizing that he takes this matter very seriously, yet stressed that there is no criminal wrongdoing.
Contact suspicions
Jagland previously stated that his relationship with Epstein was part of regular diplomatic work, then later this month admitted that he "made a misjudgment" by maintaining this relationship.
According to documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice and reported by the Norwegian newspaper "Verdens Gang", Jagland had requested a guarantee from Jeffrey Epstein to purchase an apartment, though it is not known whether this request was granted.
Jagland confirmed that all his property loans were granted by the Norwegian bank "DNB".
The documents showed Jagland communicating with Epstein in New York in 2018, and in Paris in 2015 and 2018, planning a trip to Epstein’s island with his family in 2014 that did not take place.
The local French newspaper "DNA" reported that Epstein traveled to Strasbourg three times, when Jagland was head of the Council of Europe, accompanied by American businessman Bill Gates in 2013, and in 2016 and 2017.
The newspaper mentioned that Jagland appeared in his email communications with Epstein as an "informal intermediary in relations with Russia," when Russia was still a member of the Council of Europe, before being expelled after it waged war on Ukraine in February 2022.
In an email dated June 24, 2018, Epstein wrote to Jagland: "I believe you could suggest to Putin (the Russian President) that Lavrov (the Russian Foreign Minister) could obtain information by speaking with me", to which Jagland replied "I will meet with Lavrov's assistant on Monday and suggest it.".
