In the gleaming boardrooms of Davos, where global leaders once toasted Norway’s spotless reputation for integrity, former Foreign Minister Børge Brende now faces a stark reckoning: Norwegian authorities have launched a formal investigation into whether he deliberately covered up his documented ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Fresh 2026 Epstein files exposed multiple business dinners in 2018 and 2019—long after Epstein’s 2008 conviction—plus friendly emails and texts exchanged between the two men. Brende, now CEO of the World Economic Forum, initially denied any contact, only to admit the meetings after the documents surfaced, insisting he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes and describing them as routine gatherings with diplomats and business leaders.
The probe strikes at the heart of Norway’s self-image as a beacon of transparency and ethics, fueling public outrage and calls for accountability. As investigators dig deeper into possible concealment or influence peddling, one urgent question looms: will this scandal topple yet another pillar of Norway’s elite, or can Brende prove the links were innocent and forgotten?
In the gleaming boardrooms of Davos, where global leaders once toasted Norway’s spotless reputation for integrity, former Foreign Minister Børge Brende now faces a stark reckoning: Norwegian authorities have launched a formal investigation into whether he deliberately covered up his documented ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
On February 18, 2026, Norway’s Økokrim economic crime unit opened a probe into Brende, 59, on suspicion of gross negligence in public office and potential obstruction of justice. The investigation centers on his tenure as Foreign Minister (2013–2017) and subsequent role as president and CEO of the World Economic Forum since 2017. Newly unredacted documents from the U.S. Department of Justice’s January 2026 Epstein files release revealed multiple business dinners in 2018 and 2019—long after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution—plus friendly emails and texts exchanged between the two men.
One 2018 email chain showed Epstein inviting Brende to a private dinner at his Manhattan townhouse alongside European diplomats and financiers; another from 2019 referenced a follow-up meeting in New York. Texts included casual exchanges about Davos logistics and mutual acquaintances. Brende initially denied any personal contact when Norwegian media inquired in early February 2026, stating through a WEF spokesperson that he had “no recollection” of meeting Epstein. After the documents surfaced days later, he issued a revised statement: “I attended several large gatherings where Epstein was present as part of broader networking events involving diplomats, business leaders, and philanthropists. I was unaware of the full extent of his criminal activities at the time and cut all contact immediately upon learning more.”
Critics accuse Brende of deliberate minimization. The probe examines whether he failed to disclose these interactions during security clearances, background checks for his WEF appointment, or in response to earlier Norwegian inquiries post-2019. Investigators are also scrutinizing potential influence peddling: did Epstein leverage these connections for access to elite forums, or did Brende benefit indirectly through introductions or funding channels? No direct financial links have emerged, but the pattern fits Norway’s widening Epstein scandal—already ensnaring former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland, Ambassador Mona Juul, and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
The fallout has been swift. Public outrage erupted on social media and in parliament, with opposition parties demanding an independent commission into Foreign Ministry vetting processes. WEF officials defended Brende, calling the probe “politically motivated” and emphasizing his leadership in global cooperation. Yet pressure mounted: several corporate sponsors quietly reviewed participation in upcoming Davos events, and Norwegian NGOs called for his temporary step-back from duties.
Brende maintains the links were incidental, professional, and forgotten amid countless high-level encounters. He has pledged full cooperation with Økokrim, which plans to question him and review seized communications. If convicted of gross negligence, he could face fines or up to six years in prison—though experts consider jail time unlikely absent proof of intent.
The scandal strikes at the heart of Norway’s self-image as a beacon of transparency and ethics, amplifying calls for accountability among its elite. As investigators dig deeper into possible concealment or influence peddling, one urgent question looms: will this scandal topple yet another pillar of Norway’s establishment, or can Brende prove the links were innocent, peripheral, and long forgotten in the relentless pursuit of global influence?
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