Norwegian parliament opens hearings on ministers' Epstein ties
Norway's Storting began public hearings with 11 current and former foreign and development ministers, including Prime Minister Stoere, over ties between Jeffrey Epstein and Norwegian officials. Police investigations and a separate independent inquiry continue.
Updated (version 2). New coverage since the last version from Al Jazeera, Anadolu Agency, Arab News. Previously: “Norwegian parliament begins hearings on ministers' Epstein ties”.
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The story, neutrally told
Norway's parliament began public hearings on Wednesday 30 September into ties between the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Norwegian diplomats and politicians. The Straits TimesRC “Norway's parliament begins public hearings on Wednesday on ties between late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Norwegian diplomats and politicians” Read at The Straits Times ↗ South China Morning PostN “Norway’s parliament began hearings on Wednesday of current and former ministers to examine practices in the diplomatic service” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Eleven people who have been foreign or development ministers since 2005, including Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, will appear before the committee on scrutiny and constitutional affairs. South China Morning PostN “11 officials who have held the positions of foreign minister or development aid minister since 2005, including current Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ The Straits TimesRC “The committee has summoned 11 current and former foreign ministers and development ministers” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The hearings follow the US Justice Department's January release of millions of Epstein-related documents, which Reuters says revealed connections to politicians, royals and the wealthy worldwide. The Straits TimesRC “Department of Justice in January released millions of Epstein-related documents, revealing connections to politicians, royals and the ultra-rich around the world.” Read at The Straits Times ↗
AFP and Al Jazeera say the foreign ministry paid more than 130 million kroner to the International Peace Institute between 1997 and 2018; the institute was headed by Terje Rod-Larsen from 2005 to 2020. South China Morning PostN “payment of more than 130 million kroner to the International Peace Institute (IPI) between 1997 and 2018” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Al JazeeraLC “allocated over 130 million kroner ($13.5m) to the International Peace Institute between 1997 and 2018” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Testifying, Stoere, foreign minister from 2005 to 2012, said the institute funding had no link to Epstein and that there was no information Epstein took part in carrying out Norwegian foreign or development policy. Anadolu AgencyN “There has been no information that Epstein has been in contact with or a collaborator in the implementation of Norwegian foreign or development policy” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ He called the problems isolated lapses rather than a systemic culture, said civil servants recommended a 2006 framework agreement with the institute, and denied political instructions to secure funding. Al JazeeraLC “There is no reason to speak of an unhealthy culture at a large organisation just because of what one or several people may have done” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “Store said civil servants recommended entering into a framework agreement with IPI in 2006 and denied that political instructions had been issued” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Committee member Jonas Andersen Sayed questioned a rise in annual funding from 4 million to 11 million kroner between 2006 and 2007, and said the documents raise questions of abuse of office and accountability failures. Anadolu AgencyN “questioned an increase in annual funding from 4 million to 11 million Norwegian kroner between 2006 and 2007” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ South China Morning PostN “raise serious questions about abuse of office, a culture of accountability failures and poor management of development aid funds” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Former foreign minister Borge Brende, who resigned as head of the World Economic Forum, says he did not know of Epstein's past when they met in 2018; former development minister Erik Solheim calls the probe an overreaction. The Straits TimesRC “Brende has said he was unaware of Epstein's past and criminal activities before first meeting him in 2018”“parliament's probe is an overreaction that will throttle the foreign service” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Rod-Larsen, his wife Mona Juul and former prime minister Thorbjorn Jagland are under police investigation over alleged corruption, which they deny, and were not summoned. South China Morning PostN “Jagland is also under investigation on suspicion of “aggravated corruption”, but is not among the officials summoned by parliament” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ The Straits TimesRC “All three have denied any criminal wrongdoing.” Read at The Straits Times ↗
The hearings cannot impose sanctions, and a separate independent inquiry with a broader remit is due to report by 31 January 2028. South China Morning PostN “The hearings themselves will not result in any sanctions.”“due to submit its final report by January 31, 2028” Read at South China Morning Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Frames it as an investigation of 11 senior officials over Epstein-linked state grants, leading with the money and Rod-Larsen's alleged conduct.
- Emphasis
- The $13.5m in grants, illicit loans and visa fraud allegations, and Stoere's denials.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not report Stoere's answers on the 2006 funding increase or Brende's explanation.
- Charged language
- “launches probe”“illicit loans and visa fraud for sex-trafficked women”
- For example
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“Norway investigates over $13m in state grants linked to Epstein and top ministers.” — Al Jazeera
“illicit loans and visa fraud for sex-trafficked women” — Al Jazeera
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Anadolu leads with the prime minister's defence of the funding; SCMP (AFP) gives a procedural account of the hearings and the investigations.
- Emphasis
- Stoere's testimony on oversight and funding decisions (Anadolu); the 130 million kroner and the parliamentary process (SCMP).
- Leaves out or plays down
- Anadolu omits the police investigations and the independent inquiry; SCMP omits Stoere's testimony.
- Charged language
- “aggravated corruption”
- For example
-
“Overall, our experience with IPI was positive, and therefore we entered into new agreements,” — Anadolu Agency
“The hearings themselves will not result in any sanctions.” — South China Morning Post
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Reuters copy in the Straits Times presents a scandal that has 'shaken the nation's elite', stressing the institutional fallout and the parallel commission.
- Emphasis
- Fallout for the elite, including Brende's resignation, the Queen's apology, and the rare parliamentary commission.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the 130 million kroner in funding to the International Peace Institute or Stoere's testimony.
- Charged language
- “a scandal that has shaken the nation's elite”“very poor judgement”
- For example
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“in a scandal that has shaken the nation's elite” — The Straits Times
“Queen Mette-Marit, wife of King Haakon, has apologised for her friendship with Epstein” — The Straits Times
What every side reports
- Parliament's hearings began on 30 September with 11 current and former foreign and development ministers, including Prime Minister Stoere.
- The hearings follow the January US Justice Department release of Epstein documents.
- Stoere was foreign minister from 2005 to 2012.
- Jagland, Rod-Larsen and Juul are under police investigation and deny wrongdoing; they were not summoned.
- A separate independent inquiry is due to report in early 2028.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the problems were systemic
- Left
- Al Jazeera quotes Stoere saying the problems were isolated lapses, not an unhealthy culture.
- Centre
- AFP/SCMP quotes committee member Andersen Sayed citing 'a culture of accountability failures'; Anadolu reports Stoere defending the funding as a good investment.
- Right
- Reuters (Straits Times) quotes Andersen Sayed saying many people showed 'very poor judgement' and Solheim calling the probe an overreaction.
-
Whether the funding to the International Peace Institute was tied to Epstein
- Left
- Al Jazeera links the grants to the files in its headline and lede ('grants linked to Epstein').
- Centre
- Anadolu reports Stoere saying the cooperation had no connection to Epstein.
- Right
- Reuters does not address the funding; it notes Rod-Larsen had a personal loan from Epstein.
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Jonas Gahr Stoere served as foreign minister from 2005 to 2012
Reported- Reports 3
- Al Jazeera, Anadolu Agency, The Straits Times
-
The parliamentary committee summoned 11 current and former foreign and development ministers, including Prime Minister Stoere
Reported- Reports 3
- Al Jazeera, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times
-
Jagland, Rod-Larsen and Mona Juul are under police investigation on corruption accusations and deny wrongdoing
Reported- Reports 3
- Al Jazeera, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times
Jonas Gahr Stoere person
Stoere says he had no relationship with Epstein, that the peace institute funding was unconnected to him and was a good investment, and that problems were isolated.
“our experience with IPI was positive” — Anadolu Agency
“Stoere, who has denied any wrongdoing” — Al Jazeera
Storting organisation
Committee figures say the government must explain how it will restore trust in the foreign service and that accountability and reform are needed.
“It is essential that all the facts are brought to light, that accountability is established, and that the necessary reforms are implemented” — South China Morning Post
Terje Rod-Larsen person
Rod-Larsen is under police investigation and denies wrongdoing; Reuters says he apologised for his close relation to Epstein.
“Roed-Larsen has apologised for his close relation to Epstein, which included a personal loan from the financier” — The Straits Times
International Peace Institute organisation
Its funding by Norway is central to the hearings; Stoere called it a useful platform for Norwegian interests at the UN.
“provided a useful platform for advancing Norwegian interests at the UN” — Anadolu Agency
East and Southeast Asia2 outlets
Both outlets carry agency copy (Reuters, AFP) covering the hearings' purpose, the people implicated and the wider inquiry.
“It is only the ninth such group to be appointed by parliament in the last 140 years.” — The Straits Times
“Parliament has also set up an independent inquiry tasked with a much broader examination of the case” — South China Morning Post
The Straits Times, South China Morning Post
Middle East3 outlets
Anadolu focuses on the prime minister's defence of the funding; Al Jazeera on the money and Rod-Larsen's role in the Oslo Accords.
“a good investment for Norway” — Anadolu Agency
“chief architect of the 1993 Oslo Accords” — Al Jazeera
Anadolu Agency, Al Jazeera, Arab News
Left1 article
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Norway launches probe into 11 senior officials over US Epstein files links
Critical Headlines an investigation of senior officials over Epstein-linked grants, with detail on allegations against Rod-Larsen.
Centre2 articles
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South China Morning PostN · · via AFP
Norway’s ministers questioned in parliament over Epstein ties
Neutral AFP wire copy giving a procedural account centred on the ministry's payments to the institute and the investigations.
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Norwegian premier says peace institute funding had no link to Epstein
Neutral Leads with the prime minister's defence of the funding, relaying NRK, and notes that being named in the files does not establish wrongdoing.
Right2 articles
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The Straits TimesRC · · via Reuters
Norway parliament probes Epstein links to politicians, diplomats
Neutral Reuters wire copy on an elite-shaking scandal, with broad context on those implicated.
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- 30 Sep 02:07 First The Straits TimesRC Norway parliament probes Epstein links to politicians, diplomats via Reuters
- 30 Sep 11:23 +9h 15m South China Morning PostN Norway’s ministers questioned in parliament over Epstein ties via AFP
- 30 Sep 14:50 +12h 43m Anadolu AgencyN Norwegian premier says peace institute funding had no link to Epstein
- 30 Sep 20:10 +18h 2m Al JazeeraLC Norway launches probe into 11 senior officials over US Epstein files links
- 30 Sep 20:33 +18h 25m Arab NewsRC Norwegian ministers grilled in parliament over Epstein ties
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.