Thorbjorn Jagland is reportedly in hospital in serious condition after being charged with gross corruption over ties to the convicted sex offender.
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland was hospitalized last week after a suicide attempt, days after being charged with gross corruption over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Norwegian outlet iNyheter has claimed.
Citing a “rock-solid source,” iNyheter wrote that Jagland’s condition is serious. The facility treating the 75-year-old statesman has not been disclosed.
Jagland is one of Norway’s most prominent political figures, having served as prime minister, parliament leader, foreign minister, and Secretary General of the Council of Europe. He also chaired the Norwegian Nobel Committee from 2009 to 2015.
Earlier this month, Jagland was charged with gross corruption following the release of the latest batch of Epstein files by the US Justice Department. Norway’s anti-corruption agency carried out extensive searches of Jagland’s properties in Oslo and Risor.
According to the agency’s letter to the Council of Europe seeking to lift his immunity, Jagland and his immediate family used Epstein’s private apartments in Paris and New York multiple times between 2011 and 2018, and stayed at his villa in Palm Beach, Florida. Jagland also allegedly asked Epstein for assistance with a bank loan.
If convicted, Jagland could face up to 10 years in prison. He has denied wrongdoing.
The scandal is part of the wider fallout from the Epstein document release, which has triggered probes and resignations across politics, business, and academia.
The files also mention several other high-profile Norwegians, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who appears extensively in documents detailing years of contact with the notorious sex offender. The revelations add to the scrutiny of Norway’s royal household amid the rape trial of her son, Marius Borg Hoiby.
In the UK, ex-Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested last week on suspicion of “misconduct in public office” over claims he shared confidential government information with Epstein while serving as trade envoy. He was later released and remains under investigation,also denying any wrongdoing. An anonymous tip in the files alleged that the former royal took part in torturing a six year old.
Former UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson was also arrested on similar charges, while three senior officials in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government have resigned in the past ten days.
