Norwegian Police Search Ex–Council of Europe Chief Jagland After Immunity Is Lifted

Overview

• Norway’s white‑collar crime authority Økokrim searched Thorbjørn Jagland’s Oslo home and leisure properties on Feb. 12 in a probe into aggravated corruption tied to Jeffrey Epstein.
• The Council of Europe suspended Jagland’s residual diplomatic immunity on Feb. 11 at Norway’s request, clearing the way for investigators to act.
• Authorities are examining documents showing a 2014 email in which Jagland sought help from Epstein to finance an Oslo apartment and records of stays at Epstein properties in Paris (2015, 2018) and New York (2018).
• Correspondence from 2018 indicates Epstein asked Jagland to help arrange a meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, claiming to have information for President Vladimir Putin.
• Jagland’s lawyer says he is now a suspect under Norwegian procedure, denies any criminal wrongdoing, and will cooperate, as parliament launches an external review and police also investigate other senior diplomats.