Norway's Top Diplomat Resigns Amid Epstein Scandal, Casting Shadow Over Oslo's Political Elite
By Nora Buli
OSLO, Feb 8 (Reuters) – In a move that underscores the lingering fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, Norway's Foreign Ministry announced Sunday the resignation of veteran diplomat Mona Juul. The decision follows an internal inquiry triggered by U.S. court documents linking Juul to the late convicted sex offender, marking a significant blow to the Nordic nation's diplomatic corps.
Juul, 66, was suspended earlier this week from her post as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq pending the review. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stated that her "contact with convicted sex offender Epstein has shown a serious failure of judgment," adding that the breach of trust made her position untenable.
The case extends beyond Juul, ensnaring her husband, Terje Roed-Larsen, the former president of the New York-based International Peace Institute (IPI). The ministry has initiated a review of its past grants to the think tank. Roed-Larsen, 78, a former cabinet minister and fellow architect of the landmark Oslo Accords, has previously apologized for his Epstein connections.
Juul and Roed-Larsen rose to international prominence in the 1990s as part of the small Norwegian team that brokered the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinians. Their legacy is now clouded by the scandal, which has also touched other Norwegian elites, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who issued a fresh apology last week.
The resignation echoes similar political tremors in Europe. In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, quit on Sunday, citing responsibility for advising the appointment of Peter Mandelson as U.S. ambassador despite known Epstein links.
Analysis: Juul's departure highlights how the Epstein affair continues to unravel years after his death, challenging the reputations of global power brokers. For Norway, a country that prides itself on ethical foreign policy and peace diplomacy, the scandal strikes at the heart of its establishment, forcing a painful re-examination of past associations and the boundaries of personal judgment for public officials.
Reactions & Commentary:
"This is a sobering but necessary step," said Henrik Vogt, a political analyst in Oslo. "Trust is the currency of diplomacy. When that is compromised, especially on an issue of this gravity, there's no path forward in a representative role."
"It's devastating to see a career dedicated to peacebuilding end this way," commented Elin Johansen, a retired foreign service officer. "It serves as a stark reminder that personal associations can have profound professional consequences, regardless of one's past achievements."
"Where is the accountability for the system that allowed this?" argued Markus Thorne, a sharp-tongued commentator for a left-leaning newspaper. "Resigning one ambassador is a scapegoat maneuver. This isn't about one 'failure of judgment'—it's about an entire elite culture that mingled with a predator for decades. The review of IPI grants is a start, but we need a full, public inquiry into all political and financial ties to Epstein's network."
"The focus should remain on the victims, not the reputational damage to diplomats," added Layla Chen, a human rights advocate based in Brussels. "Every new revelation pushes us to ask who else enabled that horrific system and what they gained from it."