In a dramatic turn that has shaken Norway’s foreign service and reverberated across European diplomatic circles, Norway’s ambassador to Jordan and Iraq, Mona Juul, has resigned amid revelations of her links to convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The resignation follows the release of a massive cache of US government documents tying Juul and other high-profile Norwegians to Epstein over many years. The fallout highlights broader questions about judgment, trust and diplomacy at the highest levels of international service.
Sudden Fall of a Veteran Diplomat
Mona Juul stepped down from her post in early February after intense scrutiny over her past contacts with Jeffrey Epstein, whose name surfaced in newly published documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide described her decision as “correct and necessary”, saying that her past contact with Epstein showed “a serious failure of judgment” and made it difficult to restore the trust required for her ambassadorial role.
Juul, 66, had served as Norway’s envoy to several major postings, including Israel, the United Kingdom and the United Nations, before being appointed ambassador to Jordan in October 2024 and to Iraq in October 2025.
The foreign ministry previously suspended Juul while its internal review examined the scope of her interactions with Epstein. Her early departure means she will not return to diplomatic service in Jordan or Iraq, and a deputy ambassador is now leading those missions until a new appointment is made.
Epstein Files Reveal Troubling Connections
The Epstein Files are a broad trove of documents published by the US Department of Justice in 2026 under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. These files have prompted political fallout around the world, naming politicians, diplomats and public figures whose names appeared in correspondence or financial documents linked to the late financier.
The documents connected Juul to Epstein through social and professional ties over many years. Norwegian media reported that Epstein left approximately $10 million to each of Juul’s two children with her husband, Terje Rød-Larsen, in his 2019 will. Rød-Larsen, a prominent diplomat in his own right and a former head of the International Peace Institute, has also faced intense scrutiny over his interactions with Epstein.
Norwegian authorities have already launched broader investigations into other figures named in the files, including former prime minister Thorbjørn Jagland on suspicion of aggravated corruption. Crown Princess Mette-Marit has also issued a public apology for her past relationship with Epstein after the same documents surfaced.
Norway’s Foreign Ministry Responds
In announcing Juul’s resignation, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said that Juul’s previous explanations about her contact with Epstein were being reviewed, and that the ministry would continue its fact-finding even after her departure. Importantly, the ministry has also launched a formal assessment of its past grants and ties with the International Peace Institute during the period Rød-Larsen led the organization, calling some of the information “very extensive and highly concerning”.
Eide emphasized that the situation made it so Juul could no longer carry out her work responsibly and that restoring confidence in Norway’s diplomatic service was essential. In Norway’s Foreign Ministry system, ambassadors are expected to uphold not only legal obligations but also the highest ethical standards of judgment and conduct.
A Wider Scandal Across Europe
Juul’s resignation is not an isolated incident. Other diplomats and political aides linked to Epstein have also stepped down. In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney resigned after pressure over appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States despite Mandelson’s own documented ties to Epstein. That scandal added to the diplomatic strain and highlighted how far the Epstein Files’ impact has spread.
Across Europe, the release of the documents has triggered calls for greater accountability, especially for political and public figures whose ties to Epstein were previously undisclosed. Multiple investigations are underway in several countries, underscoring how the files have eroded public trust and stirred demands for transparency.
Reputational Damage and Diplomatic Trust
Juul’s resignation is significant not only because she was a senior diplomat but also because she had been integral to major diplomatic efforts in her career, including Norway’s role in mediating the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinians in the early 1990s. That history had made her a respected figure in global diplomacy.
The emerging revelations have forced Norway to confront how long-standing personal and professional relationships with controversial individuals can affect the integrity of its diplomatic service. Many analysts believe that trust, once lost, is particularly hard to rebuild in foreign service, where perception and credibility are fundamental to international engagements.
Public reaction within Norway has ranged from calls for accountability to broader discussions about ethical standards in governance. Some Norwegian commentators on social media have noted that resignations are just the first step in restoring confidence, while others argue that deeper reforms are needed to prevent future scandals of this nature.
What Comes Next
While Juul has resigned, the investigation into her contacts and the wider implications of the Epstein Files in Norway are ongoing. The foreign ministry’s continued review may lead to further action depending on what the inquiry uncovers. Officials have stressed that ensuring the integrity of Norway’s diplomatic missions is crucial, and that neutral leadership is needed in countries like Jordan and Iraq where geopolitical tensions are high.
This episode also raises broader questions about how diplomatic services worldwide vet personal and professional associations of senior envoys, especially when unofficial networks intersect with controversial figures whose actions have deeply harmed others.
The shockwaves from the Epstein Files continue to ripple through global institutions and diplomatic circles, prompting governments to reexamine long-standing relationships and to reaffirm commitments to ethical standards that undergird public trust.
