Mona Juul Resigns as Norwegian Ambassador Amid Investigations Into Jeffrey Epstein Contacts

Mona Juul Resigns as Ambassador to Jordan Amid Jeffrey Epstein Scrutiny

Mona Juul, Norway's ambassador to Jordan, has resigned from her position following intense scrutiny over her contacts with Jeffrey Epstein. The resignation, announced by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry on Sunday evening, comes days after her suspension and follows reports that Epstein's will designated $10 million for the children of Juul and her husband, Terje Rød-Larsen.

Norway's Foreign Ministry and economic crimes unit have both launched investigations related to the matter, focusing on Juul's knowledge and Rød-Larsen's prior leadership of the International Peace Institute.

Juul's departure was confirmed on Sunday by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry. The controversy escalated after news emerged that Epstein's will, drafted before his 2019 death, allocated a significant sum to the couple's children.

Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide described Juul's decision to resign as "correct and necessary," citing her contact with Epstein as a "serious lapse in judgment." Eide emphasized that the situation undermined the trust required for an ambassadorial role.

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry's internal investigation into Juul's relationship with Epstein is ongoing, with further discussions expected to clarify the extent of her knowledge and contact.

Separately, the ministry has also initiated a review of its funding and engagement with the International Peace Institute (IPI), a New York-based think tank formerly headed by Terje Rød-Larsen. Foreign Minister Eide indicated that Rød-Larsen also displayed poor judgment regarding Epstein.

On Monday, Norway's National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Økokrim) confirmed it had opened its own investigation into Juul and Rød-Larsen the previous week. Mona Juul is under suspicion of gross corruption related to her Foreign Ministry position, while Terje Rød-Larsen is suspected of aiding and abetting gross corruption. Investigators are examining whether Juul received benefits linked to her official duties. Searches were conducted at an Oslo apartment and a witness's home as part of this probe.

In a statement to the Norwegian news agency NTB, Mona Juul acknowledged that her prior description of her contact with Epstein as "minimal" had been "imprecise." She clarified that her interactions stemmed from her husband's relationship with Epstein and were sporadic, private, and entirely outside her official duties. Juul stated that she should have exercised greater caution.

"My contact originated from her husband's relationship with Epstein and was sporadic, private, and not part of her official duties."

The recent release of Epstein-related documents has cast a wider net, bringing other prominent Norwegian figures under scrutiny. Crown Princess Mette-Marit issued an apology on Friday for her past relationship with Epstein. Additionally, Økokrim has launched a corruption investigation into former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland concerning his ties to Epstein, with his lawyer confirming cooperation with the inquiry.

Both Mona Juul and Terje Rød-Larsen are notable for their involvement in facilitating the Oslo Accords, a key initiative aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the 1990s.