Norway’s parliament has opened public hearings into links between Jeffrey Epstein and Norwegian politicians, diplomats and officials, as the country examines whether the relationships damaged trust in its foreign service.
The inquiry follows the release in January of millions of documents related to the late US sex offender by Donald Trump’s Department of Justice. The material revealed connections involving politicians, royals and wealthy figures around the world.
Jonas Andersen Sayed, who is leading the hearings before parliament’s Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs, said the government needed to explain how it intended to restore confidence.
“There are many people who have demonstrated very poor judgment,” Mr Andersen Sayed said, referring to those who had maintained friendships with Epstein.
Eleven current and former foreign and development ministers have been summoned, including Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who was foreign minister between 2005 and 2012.
Mr Støre said he had never had any relationship with Epstein and argued that the problems involved a small number of individuals rather than a systemic failure within the foreign ministry.
He said issues identified through the disclosures had either been dealt with or were being addressed, including through updated conflict-of-interest rules for decision-makers.
“Updated and comprehensive rules are necessary, but even the best system provides no complete guarantee against errors being made, whether intentional or unintentional,” Mr Støre told the committee.
He added: “No system involving people can guarantee against the misuse of trust.”
Mr Støre said that, as far as he knew, Epstein had exerted no influence over Norway’s foreign policy, development aid policy “or any other choices we had taken”.
Former foreign minister accepts responsibility
Boerge Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister, also gave evidence after resigning as president and chief executive of the World Economic Forum following revelations about his friendly relationship with Epstein.
Mr Brende said he met Epstein only after becoming foreign minister and that their contact consisted of three dinners, along with exchanges by email and text message.
“Regarding his abuse, had I known what I know today, I would never have been in contact with him. But I should have researched him more. I take responsibility for that,” he said.
He also apologised for telling the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten in November 2025 that he had not met Epstein.
“I am sorry I was not honest at first,” Mr Brende said.
Erik Solheim, a former international development minister, welcomed the parliamentary investigation but warned against discouraging diplomats from engaging with controversial groups, particularly those involved in conflicts.
Norway regularly holds discussions with organisations that other countries boycott, including Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. “We must take care of our peace diplomacy, do more of it,” Mr Solheim told the committee.
Several other prominent Norwegians with links to Epstein are being investigated by police over corruption allegations. They include former prime minister Thorbjoern Jagland, former minister Terje Roed-Larsen and former diplomat Mona Juul, all of whom have denied wrongdoing.
Mr Roed-Larsen has apologised for his close relationship with Epstein, which included a personal loan from the financier. He stepped down as chief executive of the New York-based International Peace Institute in 2020.
Queen Mette-Marit, the wife of King Haakon, has also apologised for her friendship with Epstein but is not appearing before the parliamentary hearing.
Alongside the hearings, parliament has appointed an independent commission of academics and legal experts to examine matters raised by the documents and assess how to improve the integrity and transparency of Norwegian authorities.
The commission will review more than 30 years of Norway’s diplomatic history and is expected to report its findings in early 2028.
