Norway’s former prime minister has been hospitalised due to ‘strain’ amid a corruption probe looking into his close links with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Thorbjørn Jagland, who led the country from 1996 to 1997 and served as the secretary general of the Council of Europe from 2009 to 2019, was admitted to hospital ‘as a result of the strain in the wake of this case’, his lawyer Anders Brosveet said.
Brosveet said in a statement that the former Norwegian leader ‘will receive long-term follow-up in the healthcare system.’
Norway’s economic crimes unit is investigating whether Jagland misused his positions to receive gifts, travel and loans from Epstein.
Files released by the US government appeared to show Jagland planning solo and family visits to Epstein’s properties in Paris, New York and Palm Beach even after the paedophile was convicted of a child sex offence.
On top of this, he is also alleged to have accepted an offer to have travel and hotel costs for six adults going to the Caribbean, though this trip is understood to have not materialised.
He is also alleged to have solicited Epstein’s help in trying to get a bank loan, though it is not currently clear if this ever came about, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
Police have not confirmed whether this allegation is being investigated as part of their probe.
Norway’s former prime minister Thorbjørn Jagland (pictured, left) has been hospitalised due to ‘strain’ amid a corruption probe looking into his close links with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein
Norway is investigating the former PM’s alleged links to dead paedophile Jeffrey Epstein (pictured)
Jagland held diplomatic immunity as a result of his role on the Council of Europe. But on February 11, the organisation waived this protection, paving the way for charges to be brought.
On February 12, the day the former PM was charged, investigators raided his properties, including flats in Oslo and Risør.
Through his lawyer, Jagland previously denied any criminality.
His alleged involvement with Epstein has resulted in the first instance of a former leader of Norway facing criminal charges since the end of WW2.
He is one of several prominent Norwegians named in the Epstein files, including Børge Brende, the now-former head of the World Economic Forum who resigned from his lofty position today.
In a statement today, the forum’s presidents André Hoffmann and Larry Fink said: ‘We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Børge Brende for his significant contributions to the World Economic Forum.
‘His commitment and leadership have been of great importance and have led to a successful annual meeting in Davos. We respect his decision to step down.’
Brende, who served as Norway’s foreign minister from 2013 to 2017, himself said in a separate statement: ‘My eight years in this role have been an extremely enriching experience.
Børge Brende (pictured), the now-former head of the World Economic Forum, resigned from his lofty position today after his links to Epstein were revealed
‘I am grateful for the incredible collaboration with my colleagues, partners, and members, and I believe that now is the right time for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions.’
Brende, who became president of the WEF in 2017, previously said he regretted not looking into Epstein’s past properly after it was revealed he had taken part in several business dinners with him and had continued email and text correspondence with him.
In November 2025, he denied he ever met Epstein. But documents released by the US Department of Justice showed they spoke throughout 2018 and 2019.
According to the files, Brende appeared to have had dinner with Epstein just a few weeks before his arrest and subsequent death in 2019.
According to Norwegian newspaper E24, the pair for dinner on June 13 that year. Three days later, Epstein appeared to send Brende a picture of a woman.
Brende said: ‘I was right, wasn’t I? Hilarious.’
Epstein said in response: ‘Bad new, every time I see Ms. Piggy, I’ll think of you.’
Brende replied: ‘I can live with that. Better to be remembered than forgotten.’
Just four weeks later, Epstein was arrested after landing at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey on his way home from Paris.
Others from Norway’s upper echelons who were caught up in the Epstein files include the country’s future queen, Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
Mette-Marit apologised for ‘poor judgement’ in choosing to maintain a relationship with Epstein, according to a statement issued by Norway’s royal family.
According to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, the princess spoke to Epstein about ‘wife hunting.’
In a 2012 exchange, Epstein wrote to her: ‘I am looking for a wife. Paris is proving interesting, but I prefer Scandinavians.’
She said in response: ‘Paris is good for adultery. Scandi better wife material. But then again, who am I to talk?’
The exchange came a year after Epstein had been convicted of exploiting underage girls for sexual services.
In October that year, Mette-Marit said: ‘Googled u after last email. Agree didn’t look too good :)’