Norwegian Ambassador Resigns Amid Epstein Contact Scrutiny/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Norwegian ambassador Mona Juul has resigned amid scrutiny over her past contacts with Jeffrey Epstein. The resignation follows revelations that Epstein left $10 million to Juul’s children in his will. Authorities have launched corruption investigations as Epstein files continue to ripple across Europe.
Norway Epstein Fallout Quick Looks
- Norwegian ambassador Mona Juul resigns after Epstein scrutiny
- Epstein reportedly left $10 million to Juul’s children
- Juul suspended before resignation as ambassador to Jordan
- Norway opens corruption investigation into Juul and her husband
- Review launched into government ties with International Peace Institute
- Case linked to wider global fallout from Epstein files
- Similar controversies unfolding in the UK and elsewhere
Deep Look:
OSLO, Norway (AP) — A senior Norwegian diplomat has resigned after coming under intense scrutiny for her past contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, adding Norway to a growing list of countries grappling with political fallout from newly released Epstein files.
The Norwegian Foreign Ministry confirmed Sunday that Mona Juul stepped down from her post days after being suspended as Norway’s ambassador to Jordan. The move followed reports that Epstein left $10 million to the children of Juul and her husband, veteran diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen, in a will prepared shortly before Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019.
Government Response
Norway’s foreign minister, Espen Barth Eide, called Juul’s resignation “correct and necessary,” saying her contact with Epstein represented a “serious lapse in judgment” that undermined trust in her role.
“The case makes it difficult to restore the trust that the position requires,” Eide said, adding that an internal review into Juul’s conduct would continue despite her resignation.
Juul will remain in dialogue with the ministry as officials seek to clarify the nature and extent of her contact with Epstein, the ministry said.
Investigations Expand
Norway’s National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime, known as Økokrim, confirmed Monday that it has opened a corruption investigation involving both Juul and Rød-Larsen.
Prosecutors said Juul is suspected of gross corruption linked to her role at the Foreign Ministry, while Rød-Larsen is suspected of aiding and abetting gross corruption. Investigators are examining whether Juul received improper benefits connected to her official duties. Police have already searched an apartment in Oslo’s Frogner district and the residence of a witness.
International Context
Juul and Rød-Larsen were central figures in the negotiations that produced the Oslo Accords in the 1990s, which aimed to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Foreign Ministry also announced a review of its funding and interactions with the International Peace Institute, which Rød-Larsen once led. Minister Eide said Rød-Larsen, too, demonstrated poor judgment in his dealings with Epstein.
Juul Responds
In a statement to Norwegian news agency NTB last week, Juul acknowledged that it had been “imprecise” to characterize her contact with Epstein as minimal. She said the relationship stemmed from her husband’s association with Epstein and insisted she had no independent professional or social relationship with him.
Juul maintained that her interactions with Epstein were sporadic and private, not connected to her official duties, but conceded she should have exercised far greater caution.
Wider Epstein Fallout
The Epstein files have sent shockwaves across Europe and beyond. In the United Kingdom, controversy has engulfed figures including former Prince Andrew and ex-ambassador Peter Mandelson, while Keir Starmer faces political pressure over Mandelson’s appointment.
In Norway, Mette-Marit issued a public apology last week after documents revealed more details about her own contact with Epstein. Meanwhile, Økokrim has also opened a corruption investigation into former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland, whose lawyer has said he will cooperate fully.
What Comes Next
As investigations continue, Juul’s resignation marks one of the most significant diplomatic casualties yet from the Epstein document release. Norwegian authorities say the probes will proceed independently of political considerations, as officials seek to determine whether ethical lapses crossed into criminal wrongdoing.
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