UPDATE - Nobel Institute says ex-prime minister's alleged Epstein ties would breach ethics rules

ADDS INSTITUTE STATEMENT ON FORMER PRIME MINISTER JAGLAND; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE, BODY

By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - The Nobel Institute said Wednesday that if former Norwegian Prime Minister and Nobel Committee member Thorbjorn Jagland received financial benefits from late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, it would constitute a violation of the committee's ethical regulations.

"If it were to be the case that Thorbjorn Jagland has received significant financial benefits from Jeffrey Epstein, this would be in violation of our ethical regulations," Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of the Nobel Institute, said at a news conference in Oslo, broadcaster NRK reported.

Harpviken stressed, however, that the institute does not want to prejudge the matter, noting that Jagland has not provided a full account of his relationship with Epstein.

"We will, of course, await his statement before drawing final conclusions in this case," he said.

Jagland served as a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee from 2009 to 2015 and as secretary general of the Council of Europe from 2009 to 2019.

Epstein attended at least two events at Jagland's official residence in Strasbourg, and Jagland stayed privately in New York and Paris on occasion, the Council of Europe confirmed to NRK on Tuesday.

"We have no indication that this involved official business for the Council of Europe with Epstein, and there is no trace of these private meetings in Jagland's official diary from that time," Heli Suominen at the Council of Europe said.

Meanwhile, Norway's Progressive Party formally requested an independent investigation into the country's foreign service and the Epstein case, following revelations linking Norwegian officials to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In a letter to Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Progressive Party leader Sylvi Listhaug emphasized the need for transparency after key figures in Norwegian politics and the Foreign Ministry were mentioned in recently released US Department of Justice documents, according to NRK.

The US Justice Department recently released more than 3 million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images related to Epstein under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The materials include photographs, grand jury transcripts, and investigative records, though many pages remain heavily redacted.

The files include photos of prominent figures, grand jury transcripts, and investigative records, though many pages were heavily redacted to protect victims.

"The information that has been uncovered raises questions about whether there is a possible lack of culture linked to political, personal, administrative and financial ties," Listhaug said.

She added that the government should confirm within a week that an independent investigative committee will be established, warning that, otherwise, the Progressive Party will submit a proposal to parliament.

Prime Minister Store told NRK that he had never met Epstein and stressed that the revelations serve as a "strong warning to those in high positions in our society."

Separately, Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit was invited at least twice to Epstein's private island, although there is no confirmation she ever stayed there, NRK reported Tuesday based on newly released documents.

Palace communications manager Guri Varpe told the broadcaster that the crown princess "has never been to Jeffrey Epstein's private island."

The documents also show Mette-Marit visited Epstein's Florida villa and exchanged messages with him, including one in which she wrote, "I miss my crazy friend."

The crown princess has expressed regret for any contact with Epstein, calling it "simply embarrassing."

Epstein was found dead by suicide in a New York City jail on Aug. 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on federal charges of operating a sex trafficking network involving underage girls and women. He was being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center at the time of his death.