Norway ambassador to Iraq and Jordan quits over Epstein links

OSLO – Norway’s ambassador to Iraq and Jordan Mona Juul resigned following revelations of past contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in a deepening scandal that has unsettled diplomatic and political circles across Europe.

Norwegian foreign minister Espen Barth Eide said Juul’s interactions with Epstein represented a “serious lapse in judgment” and had undermined the trust required for her role. Her resignation came days after the foreign ministry suspended her pending an internal investigation triggered by newly-released US government files shedding light on Epstein’s global network of contacts.

“This situation makes it difficult to restore the trust that the position requires,” Eide said in a statement, confirming that the ministry would continue examining whether Juul’s past contact with Epstein had any bearing on her diplomatic work.

Juul, 66, is one of Norway’s most prominent diplomats, having previously served as ambassador to the United Nations, the United Kingdom and Israel, as well as holding ministerial office. Her departure marks a significant blow to Norway’s foreign service and underscores the far-reaching consequences of the Epstein revelations, which continue to implicate figures across politics, diplomacy and elite institutions.

Her lawyer, Thomas Skjelbred, said Juul had resigned voluntarily and would fully cooperate with authorities. “She will assist the foreign ministry in clarifying all relevant facts,” he said, adding that the current circumstances had made it impossible for her to continue in her post.

The controversy has also drawn scrutiny toward Juul’s husband, veteran diplomat Terje Rod-Larsen, who led the New York-based International Peace Institute until 2020. Norwegian media, citing newly released US justice department documents, reported that Epstein had planned meetings with Rod-Larsen in Paris in 2019, shortly before his arrest on sex trafficking charges.

Norway’s foreign ministry said it had launched a review of past grants awarded to the institute, as part of broader efforts to determine whether Epstein’s influence extended into international policy or research circles. Rod-Larsen has previously apologised for his association with Epstein but maintains that any contact was professional and lawful.

Juul and her husband gained international prominence in the early 1990s as part of a small group of Norwegian diplomats who helped broker the Oslo accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation, widely regarded at the time as a historic breakthrough despite the subsequent collapse of the peace process.

The fallout has not been confined to Norway. In Britain, Morgan McSweeney, chief of staff to prime minister Keir Starmer, resigned after taking responsibility for advising the appointment of senior Labour figure Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States, despite Mandelson’s known links to Epstein. Mandelson was later removed from the post following renewed scrutiny.

The cascade of resignations and investigations reflects the enduring political and institutional damage caused by Epstein’s network, years after his death in a US prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The latest tranche of documents released by US authorities has revived scrutiny of Epstein’s relationships with influential figures worldwide, prompting fresh inquiries and accountability measures.

Several prominent Norwegians, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit, have also acknowledged past contact with Epstein. While appearance in the files does not in itself imply wrongdoing, the disclosures have intensified public debate over transparency, ethical judgment and accountability among public officials.

For Norway, Juul’s resignation represents both a diplomatic setback and a stark reminder of the reputational risks posed by even indirect association with one of the most notorious criminal figures of recent decades.