Norwegian and French authorities have formalised a joint investigation into senior diplomat Mona Juul and her husband Terje Rod-Larsen, both of whom are suspected of corruption linked to their association with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The collaboration, announced on Monday by Norway's economic crime unit Økokrim, establishes a joint investigation team (JIT) to streamline cross-border inquiries.
“The JIT is between Økokrim and the investigation relating to Mona Juul and Terje Rod-Larsen and a specific case France is investigating,” Økokrim stated, without elaborating on the French probe. The move aims to bypass the need for repeated letters of request between the two countries, making international cooperation more efficient, according to senior state prosecutor Marianne Bender.
Background of the Suspects
Juul, 67, served as a section chief at the Norwegian foreign ministry and later as ambassador to the United Kingdom in the 2010s. Rod-Larsen, 78, was a special envoy to the UN secretary-general from 2005 to 2016. The couple played pivotal roles in the secret Israeli-Palestinian negotiations that led to the Oslo Accords in the early 1990s. Their ties to Epstein came to light through documents released in US court proceedings.
According to Norwegian media, the investigation centres on several alleged benefits: financial assistance to purchase an Oslo apartment in 2018 at a price below market value, a trip to Epstein's private island in 2011, and payment for home-care services for Rod-Larsen. Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking, reportedly left $10 million (€8.5 million) in his will to the couple's two children, according to Norwegian outlets.
The couple denies any wrongdoing. Norwegian police opened their investigation in February, probing whether Juul “received benefits in connection to her position.”
French Investigations and Wider Context
France has opened several investigations into possible financial offences committed by individuals named in the Epstein files. One such case involves diplomat Fabrice Aidan, who worked at the United Nations from 2006 to 2013 and served as an aide to Rod-Larsen. The French probe adds a layer of complexity, as Aidan’s role at the UN during Rod-Larsen’s tenure as special envoy is under scrutiny.
The JIT is expected to accelerate information sharing between Økokrim and French authorities. “The JIT will make the international cooperation more efficient. Økokrim and France do not have to write a new letter of request every time we have a need for information from the other country,” Bender explained in an email to AFP.
This case highlights the ongoing ripple effects of the Epstein scandal across Europe. While the US legal proceedings have concluded, European jurisdictions continue to pursue leads. The collaboration between Norway and France underscores the continent’s commitment to holding powerful figures accountable, even when the alleged offences span multiple countries and decades.
For Norway, a country that consistently ranks high in global prosperity indices—as noted in a recent prosperity index—the case poses reputational risks. Juul and Rod-Larsen are prominent figures in Norwegian diplomacy, and the allegations threaten to tarnish the legacy of the Oslo Accords. The investigation also touches on broader issues of transparency and ethics in international diplomacy.
As the JIT proceeds, observers will watch for further revelations. The case serves as a reminder that no individual, regardless of diplomatic stature, is above the law. For now, the couple maintains their innocence, but the evidence gathered by Norwegian and French authorities may soon tell a different story.
