Epstein files: Council of Europe lifts former Secretary General's immunity

Norwegian economic crimes police have launched an investigation into Jagland, former prime minister and former foreign minister, as well as former chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, under suspicion of serious corruption.

The decision to investigate Jagland, who was secretary - general of the Council of Europe from 2009 to 2019, was based on information discovered by new published files concerning Epstein, convicted of sexual abuse in the United States, who died in prison in 2019.

Jagland's lawyer, Anders Brosveet, has said the immunity removal decision was expected and that his client would co-operate with investigative bodies to clarify all issues.

“He takes this issue very seriously, but wants to stress that he believes there are no circumstances that constitute criminal responsibility”, Brosveet said in a statement.

To conduct the police investigation, it was necessary to lift Jagland's immunity, and Norway's Foreign Ministry has said it has asked the 46 member states of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers to approve this step.

Jagland is not officially accused of any crime, but the investigation against him aims to find out whether he has received gifts, or loans concerning his position, authorities have indicated.

“If Jagland, as the elected secretary general of the Council of Europe, had been bribed, he would have violated the particular belief related to his duty,”, said in a letter of Norwegian police on February 8th, directed to the Council for the removal of immunity.

The publication of a series of new US files has revealed new ties of Epstein to politicians, royal family members and very wealthy persons in Europe and the United States.

The files show, among other things, that in 2014 Jagland and Epstein's assistants had made detailed plans for Jagland, his wife, his son's two children, and his girlfriend to visit Epstein in Palm Beach and his private Caribbean island.

Jagland, then secretary general of the Council of Europe, has denied ever to visit the private island of Epstein.

According to an email in 2014, he had asked Epstein for help in financing an apartment in Oslo, Koha reports. Periscope

Emails from 2018 show that Epstein had asked Jagland to organise a meeting between him and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, saying he had ideas to present President Vladimir Putin. Jagland had promised to raise the case with Lavrov's assistant.

Norwegian police have said on Monday they are also investigating two top profile diplomats in another corruption probe related to Epstein, while the Norwegian Crown Princess has apologised several times for her friendship with the late financeman.