OSLO: Norway’s parliament began public hearings on Wednesday over ties bet­ween the late US sex offe­nder Jeffrey Epstein and Norwegian diplomats and politicians in a scandal that has shaken the nation’s elite.

US President Donald Tru­mp’s Department of Justice in January released millions of Epstein-related documents, revealing connections to politicians, royals and the ultra-rich around the world.

Norway, home of the Nobel Peace Prize and often a fulcrum of international diplomacy, has seen a major fallout, triggering parliamentary inquiries and police investigations.

The government must explain what it is doing to restore trust in the foreign service, said Jonas Andersen Sayed, the leader of the hearing at parliament’s Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs.

“There are many people who have demonstrated very poor judgement,” And­e­rsen Sayed told Reuters of those who had friendships with Epstein. The committee has summoned 11 current and former foreign ministers and development ministers, including Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, who was foreign minister from 2005 to 2012.

Stoere reiterated that he had never had any relation to Epstein and said that problems were due to a few individuals not a systemic problem with the foreign ministry. Issues identified had either been addressed or were being addressed, he said, citing for instance updated rules over conflicts of interest for decision-makers.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026