Authorities in Norway have initiated an investigation focusing on diplomat Mona Juul and her husband, Terje Rød-Larsen, regarding their ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This comes following Juul's resignation from her role as Norway's ambassador to Jordan and Iraq, just days after being suspended amid claims that each of their children stood to benefit from an alleged $5 million inheritance linked to Epstein’s will.
Reports indicate that Juul's husband had interactions with Epstein, including a dinner meeting in Paris shortly before Epstein’s 2019 arrest in the United States on sex trafficking charges. Both Juul and Rød-Larsen have retained legal representation, with their lawyers asserting their innocence regarding the allegations.
Norwegian officials have characterized Juul’s relationship with Epstein as a significant “lapse in judgment,” leading to an investigation led by Norway's economic crime unit, Økokrim. The unit will explore whether Juul received any illicit benefits tied to her diplomatic position. The authorities recently searched a property in Oslo as part of this inquiry.
Interestingly, this scandal has also implicated other high-profile Norwegians, such as Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who has publicly apologized for her past communications with Epstein. Former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland is also under scrutiny, and the World Economic Forum is reviewing the conduct of its executive, Borge Brende, in light of his previous meetings with Epstein.
The inquiry into Juul not only raises concerns about her diplomatic conduct but also highlights the broader implications of interactions with Epstein, which continue to reverberate across various sectors in Norway.
