Norwegian politicians hope Epstein files inquiry will restore faith in democracy

Disgraced financier’s links to politicians and civil servants as far back as 30 years ago to be examined

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An independent commission to look into information brought to light by the Jeffrey Epstein documents released by the US Department of Justice was launched on Wednesday after the Norwegian parliament voted unanimously last month for it to be set up.

The commission has been instructed to go back more than 30 years, to include the lead-up to the 1993-95 Oslo accords, examining relationships between Epstein and his network and current or former Norwegian politicians and civil servants. The commission will look at whether these relationships had any “consequences for Norwegian interests and security”.

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Per-Willy Amundsen, the chair of the standing committee on scrutiny and constitutional affairs in parliament, which appointed the independent investigation into the Epstein files, said Norwegians typically saw themselves as “an open and democratic and well- functioning society without corruption”. But the Epstein files had damaged trust in politicians in the eyes of most people, he added.

“So in a sense it has struck us very hard. And therefore we are completely dependent on having to try to build that trust again,” he said. “And therefore it is very important to have a completely independent commission that gets very free hands, protection by law, to find the facts and present them to the Storting [parliament].”

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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/18/jeffrey-epstein-files-shaken-norway-faith-in-democracy-oversight-committee