On Wednesday, the Norwegian parliament commenced formal hearings to examine the conduct of current and former government ministers. The investigation was prompted by public revelations concerning links between the late American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and high-ranking Norwegian officials.

A central focus of the parliamentary inquiry is the foreign ministry’s financial history with the International Peace Institute (IPI). Records indicate that the ministry provided over 130 million kroner to the think tank between 1997 and 2018. The institute was led by Norwegian diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen from 2005 until his departure. Lawmakers are now seeking to clarify the nature of these payments and the extent of the professional relationship between Norwegian diplomatic figures and Epstein, who had been a significant donor to various international organizations before his death in 2019.

The hearings represent an effort by the legislative branch to exercise oversight regarding how public funds were managed and whether the diplomatic service maintained appropriate vetting processes during the period in question. While the investigation is in its early stages, it highlights growing concerns regarding the influence of private donors and the transparency of government-funded think tanks. The proceedings are expected to continue as officials are called to testify about their involvement and knowledge of these institutional ties.