Norway’s government announced on Sunday that Mona Juul, the country’s ambassador to Jordan and Iraq, has resigned from her diplomatic post following revelations about her contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a scandal that has rippled across European political and diplomatic circles.

Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide described Juul’s departure as a “correct and necessary decision,” saying her interactions with Epstein represented a “serious failure of judgment” that made it difficult to maintain the trust required for such a senior diplomatic role. Juul had already been placed on administrative leave last week while the Foreign Ministry reviewed the extent of her knowledge of and contact with Epstein.

Juul’s resignation marks a dramatic turn for the seasoned diplomat, who previously served in high-profile postings — including as ambassador to Israel, the United Kingdom and the United Nations — and played a key role in the Oslo peace process of the 1990s.

The Foreign Ministry has launched a formal internal review to clarify the full scope of Juul’s interactions with Epstein and determine whether she complied with Norway’s civil service standards. Under the State Employees Act, the ministry may decide on further employment consequences based on the investigation’s findings.

In addition to reviewing Juul’s conduct, Norwegian authorities are examining past grants and contacts with the International Peace Institute (IPI) — a New York-based think tank previously led by Juul’s husband, Terje Rod‑Larsen — after Eide described newly emerged information about Rod-Larsen’s links to Epstein as “very extensive and very concerning.”

The fallout from the release of millions of pages of government files related to Epstein’s criminal network has extended well beyond Norway. In the United Kingdom, the chief of staff to Prime Minister Keir Starmer also resigned amid controversy over advising the appointment of a figure with Epstein ties, illustrating how the scandal is reshaping political careers across Europe.

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit and former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland have also faced public scrutiny over their connections referenced in the newly released documents, with Jagland now under investigation by Norway’s national crime authority on suspicion of aggravated corruption, authorities said this week.

Juul’s legal representative said she stepped down voluntarily because the circumstances had made it “impossible” for her to continue her ambassadorial duties responsibly. Juul has stated she will cooperate fully with the ministry’s review to ensure “all relevant facts” are disclosed.

The scandal has shaken confidence in Norway’s diplomatic corps and raised questions about the vetting and conduct of public officials. Analysts have noted that Juul and Rod-Larsen were once among Norway’s most respected international negotiators, making the current cloud over their legacies particularly striking.

Mona Juul’s resignation as Norway’s ambassador to Jordan and Iraq amid scrutiny over her links to Jeffrey Epstein reflects a wider European political crisis triggered by the release of extensive Epstein-related documents. The Norwegian Foreign Ministry continues its internal review of Juul’s conduct and the broader implications for state-supported institutions tied to figures named in the scandal. (ILKHA)