Scandal in Norway. Former prime minister in hospital after revealing connections with Epstein
Information about Jagland's stay in the hospital was reported on Tuesday by the iNyheter website. The editorial team wrote that the politician has been under medical care for a week and is in a serious condition after a suicide attempt. At the same time, she suggested that the media associated with the Norwegian Publishers Association and selected journalists should reach an informal agreement with the former prime minister's lawyer, Anders Brosveet, so that the event would not be reported in the media.
Why was Thorbjorn Jagland hospitalized?
Did Thorbjorn Jagland try to take his own life?
What were Thorbjorn Jagland's previous declarations regarding his relationship with Epstein?
What charges did Thorbjorn Jagland face?
Brosveet strongly denied iNyheter's findings. In a statement, he confirmed that his office had provided selected journalists with unofficial information about Jagland's health, but the final decision to use it rested with each editorial office. In his opinion, no agreement with the media was concluded.
He also added that the information disseminated about Jagland's health is false. The politician did not try to take his own life. Only information about his hospitalization was confirmed. Its cause is said to be the severe stress caused by recent events surrounding Thorbjorn Jagland's relationship with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Former Prime Minister and former head of the Nobel Committee Jagland on charges of corruption
Thorbjorn Jagland was one of the leading figures in Norwegian politics for decades. During his career, he was Prime Minister (1996–1997), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2000–2001), Speaker of Parliament (2005–2009), and Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee (2009–2015). In the years 2009-2019 he also served as Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
At the end of January, the publication of new documents by the United States Department of Justice allowed the discovery of close contacts between Jagland and Epstein, contrary to the politician's previous declarations.
On Thursday, February 12, Jagland was charged with corruption. Through his lawyer, he declared full cooperation with law enforcement authorities.
Investigators are examining whether the gifts, paid trips, holidays and possible loans described in Epstein-related documents constituted unauthorized benefits received by Jagland while he was secretary general of the Council of Europe.
