Micah Jonah
February 9, 2026
Norway’s foreign ministry has announced the resignation of Ambassador Mona Juul following revelations linking her to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in a scandal that continues to widen across Europe.
The ministry said Juul stepped down due to what it described as a serious failure of judgement after her contact with Epstein emerged in a large cache of documents released by the United States government. She had earlier been suspended from her role as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq pending an internal investigation.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said the nature of Juul’s association with Epstein made it difficult to restore the level of trust required for her diplomatic position. Juul, 66, previously served as Norway’s ambassador to Israel, Britain and the United Nations, and also held office as a junior government minister.
Her lawyer said she voluntarily resigned because the controversy had made it impossible for her to continue carrying out her duties. He added that Juul would cooperate fully with authorities to ensure all relevant facts are established.
The foreign ministry has also launched a review of grants previously awarded to the International Peace Institute, a New York based think tank formerly led by Juul’s husband, Terje Roed Larsen, until 2020. Roed Larsen, a former cabinet minister, has apologised on several occasions for his own links to Epstein and said he has no objection to the renewed review.
Juul and Roed Larsen rose to international prominence in the 1990s as key figures in facilitating the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinians, a diplomatic effort once seen as a major breakthrough in the Middle East peace process.
The Epstein related controversy has affected several high profile figures in Europe. In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff resigned after admitting responsibility for advising the appointment of a senior diplomat despite known Epstein ties. In Norway, Crown Princess Mette Marit has also issued repeated public apologies over her past association with Epstein.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing as governments across Europe face growing pressure to fully disclose and address any links between public officials and the disgraced financier.
