Credit: norway.no/en/missions/ Mona Juul also served as Norway’s Ambassador to the United Nations.
By Gary Raynaldo – DIPLOMATIC TIMES
A prominent Norwegian diplomat, Mona Juul, has resigned amid links to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Juul is stepping down from her position as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq due to a “serious failure of judgment” over past contacts with Epstein, Norway’s foreign ministry announced Sunday. The diplomat, who was a crucial mediator to the 1993 Oslo Peace Accord between the Palestinians and Israel, had been suspended last week pending an internal ministry investigation into her contacts with Epstein. Her husband Terje Rod-Larson is also being investigated as an accomplice. Norwegian police also said on Monday they have launched an “aggravated corruption” investigation into the couple.
“Juul’s contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein revealed a serious lapse in judgment. The situation makes it difficult to restore the trust that the role requires,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide said. “It’s important to understand the extent of her contact with Epstein in her capacity as an employee of the Ministry. Juul will continue dialogues with the Ministry so that the case is clarified and we can determine whether her previous explanations align with the new information. This is necessary for both parties, and particularly, we need to determine whether the relationship impacted her work as a diplomat,” Eide added.
The ministry said with Juul’s early departure from Jordan, it means she will not return as ambassador. The embassy will be led by a deputy ambassador until a new ambassador is appointed.
In 2020, Rød-Larson resigned as CEO of the New York-based International Peace Institute (IPI) amid reports he took a $130,000 loan form Epstein. Eide also said a review has been initiated regarding the Ministry’s funding of and contact with the IPI during the period when Terje Rød -Larsen headed the organization.
“The revelations about Terje Rød-Larsen and his contact with Epstein are extensive and deeply troubling. There is no doubt that Rød-Larsen exhibited poor judgment in this matter,’ Eide stated.
