Norwegian police searched the homes of former prime minister Thorbjørn Jagland on Thursday (12 February) as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged ties between prominent Norwegians and the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, authorities and media reports said.
Images published by VG, Dagbladet, Dagens Næringsliv and Aftenposten showed investigators carrying boxes into Jagland’s Oslo residence.
The raids followed the Council of Europe lifting Jagland’s diplomatic immunity. Jagland led the human rights watchdog from 2009 to 2019.
According to his lawyer Anders Brosveet, Økokrim (Norway's National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime) is currently conducting searches of Thorbjørn Jagland’s residence and recreational properties.
"This was expected and is a standard part of an investigation of this nature," his lawyer Brosveet said.
Jagland is accused of aggravated corruption, under Norwegian law provisions that precede formal charging. Formal charges in Norway are typically brought much later, sometimes only weeks before a court case.
Brosveet said: “This does not represent any real change in the substance of the case, but is a legal consequence of the investigative methods used by the police.”
Last week, Økokrim confirmed it had opened an investigation into Jagland, also a former foreign minister and ex-chair of the Nobel Peace Prize committee. Jagland told Aftenposten he welcomed the probe, “I am very glad that the matter is being clarified.”
Brosveet added that Jagland intends to appear for questioning and will cooperate fully with authorities.
The investigation is based on newly released Epstein files, which indicate that in 2014 Jagland and Epstein’s assistants planned travel to Palm Beach, Florida and Epstein’s Caribbean island for Jagland, his wife, two children and his son’s girlfriend.
Jagland has denied visiting the private island. The probe will examine whether gifts, travel or loans were received in connection with his official positions.
Emails also show Jagland sought Epstein’s help to finance an apartment in Oslo in 2014 and discussed arranging meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in 2018.
The U.S. Justice Department has released millions of documents exposing Epstein’s ties to European figures in business, academia, government and royalty.
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are facing renewed Western scrutiny after the EU expanded sanctions targeting Russia's supply chains and the U.S. introduced...
Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis has condemned discussion of Bill H.R. 9087 by the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, rejecting what it described as unf...
The U.S. military said it completed a fresh wave of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, marking the 13th consecutive night of American attacks. The late...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 23rd of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. strikes on Iran entered a 12th consecutive night, while Yemen's Houthis said they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, urging President Donald Trump to warn Tehran it would be held responsible for any future Houthi attacks.
The U.S. military said it completed a fresh wave of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, marking the 13th consecutive night of American attacks. The latest operation lasted more than two hours, according to U.S. Central Command.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Aleksandar Vučić's visit to Kyiv on 15 July appeared to send a geopolitical signal. But the significance of the trip lies less in the journey itself than in the limits Serbia carefully observed.
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are facing renewed Western scrutiny after the EU expanded sanctions targeting Russia's supply chains and the U.S. introduced new tariffs affecting trade with Central Asia.
A fast-moving wildfire has forced more than 10,000 people to evacuate homes and camping sites near France's Atlantic coast as extreme heat and worsening drought continue to fuel wildfires across Europe.
Fresh off attracting $4.3 billion in foreign investment and loans during the first half of 2026, Tashkent is using the Global Business Services Forum (GBSF) to showcase Uzbekistan's growing appeal as a destination for international investment in technology, outsourcing and artificial intelligence.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has begun his first week working from No 10 North in Manchester, promising to shift power away from London, strengthen regional decision-making and drive economic growth across the country.
The European Union has adopted its 21st sanctions package against Russia, imposing its most extensive economic penalties in four years. The measures expand restrictions across the financial, military, cyber and energy sectors while introducing new enforcement tools and broader export controls.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment