OSLO: Norway’s parliament has begun a public hearing into Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged links with Norwegian diplomats and politicians, following the release of a large number of documents concerning the convicted American sex offender.
The U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump’s administration released millions of Epstein-related documents in January this year.
The documents shed further light on his contacts with politicians, members of royal families and wealthy individuals around the world.
The disclosures have triggered a political response in Norway, a country that hosts the Nobel Peace Prize and plays a significant role in international diplomacy.
A parliamentary committee has summoned 11 current and former foreign and development ministers to testify, including Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Støre previously served as Norway’s foreign minister from 2005 to 2012.
Alongside the parliamentary inquiry, Norwegian police are also investigating the matter.
Jonas Andersen, who is leading the hearing before the Parliament’s Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs, said the government would have to explain what steps it was taking to restore confidence in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Speaking to the British news agency, Andersen said individuals who maintained friendships or contacts with Epstein had demonstrated what he described as extremely poor decision-making.
Prime Minister Støre has reiterated that he never had any relationship with Epstein. He said the current situation was the result of actions by certain individuals rather than a systemic failure within the Foreign Ministry.
Støre said some of the issues identified had already been addressed, while work was continuing to resolve others. The measures include changes to rules concerning conflicts of interest among decision-makers.