Norwegian ambassador steps down due to ties to Epstein

According to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, the decision came after the release of new documents related to the Epstein case, which revealed contacts between Juul and the American financier. In a statement, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stated that the diplomat demonstrated “a serious failure of judgment”, which “made it difficult” to maintain the trust required for the position.

According to the ministry, Juul had already been temporarily suspended from her position last week while authorities assessed the extent of her relationship with Epstein during the period in which she worked as an employee of the Norwegian diplomatic service. The internal investigation will continue to “clarify” whether the relationship had an impact on his official duties. This Monday (9), The Economic Crimes Unit of the Norwegian Public Prosecutor’s Office (Okokrim) also reported that it had opened an investigation against Juul on suspicion of corruption and against her husband, diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen, for possible collaboration in the alleged crime. According to Okokrim, the accusations against Juul are considered more serious because the facts under investigation may have occurred during the exercise of his position at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to information released by the Norwegian press, documents released on January 30th by the United States Department of Justice indicate that Epstein left around US$10 million in his will to Juul’s two children with her husband Rød-Larsen.

The news involving the ambassador further increases the pressure on political and diplomatic circles in Norway following the release of the Epstein files, which cite other public figures in the country, such as Crown Princess Mette-Marit.