Oslo, Norway. The Council of Europe said it has agreed to lift the diplomatic immunity of its former Norwegian secretary general, allowing police to investigate his links to Jeffrey Epstein. Norway’s white-collar crimes police have opened an investigation into Thorbjoern Jagland on suspicion of aggravated corruption.
Immunity lifted to allow investigation
Jagland, who served as the Council of Europe’s Secretary General from 2009 to 2019, is being investigated based on information revealed by newly released files related to Epstein, the convicted U.S. sex offender who died in prison in 2019.
Jagland’s lawyer, Anders Brosveet, said the decision to lift his immunity was as expected and that Jagland would cooperate with the investigation to clarify all matters. Brosveet said Jagland takes the matter seriously but believes there are no circumstances that constitute criminal liability.
Norway’s foreign ministry said it had asked the 46 nations of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers to remove Jagland’s immunity, which was necessary to conduct the police investigation.
Focus of the police probe
Jagland has not been charged with any crime, but police said the investigation will seek to uncover whether gifts, travel and loans were received in connection with his position.
In a February 8 letter requesting that the Council of Europe lift the immunity, Norwegian police said Jagland, as elected Secretary General of the Council of Europe, would have violated the special trust attached to his position if he received bribes.
Context of the Epstein-related disclosures
The release of a cache of new files in the United States has revealed new Epstein connections with politicians, royals and ultra-rich individuals across Europe and the United States.
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