How a Low-Key Norwegian Became Epstein’s Top Diplomatic Fixer

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A spokesperson for Kurz declined to comment.

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Rød-Larsen took on several roles at the UN, including as a special advisor to then-Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and he served briefly in Norway’s government under Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland. It was likely during his time at IPI that he came into contact with Epstein.

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“Mr. Larsen no longer works for the United Nations and has not for some time,” said a UN spokesperson. “As for the ambassador, the former permanent representative of Norway, it’s not for us to comment,” they said, referring to Juul.

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Rød-Larsen resigned from the IPI in 2020 — when Rudd was chair — after it emerged that he had taken a personal loan from Epstein and not disclosed it, and accepted donations from foundations linked to Epstein. At the time, Rudd said he was “blindsided.”

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The latest cache sheds greater light into the money IPI was accepting under Rød-Larsen’s watch. It shows Epstein and his aides emailing about donations and wiring instructions amounting to several million dollars between 2011 and 2017. In addition, Epstein connected IPI with other donors.

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A spokeswoman for the IPI didn’t respond to three requests for comment sent by email. 

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Separately, some contributions to the IPI were under scrutiny already in 2021 when Norway’s State Audit Office investigated the country’s funding to the organization. It found that the Foreign Ministry “did not control how the International Peace Institute spent the money, violated the rules of case management and did not take the issue of impartiality seriously.” 

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The ministry paid around 131 million Norwegian kroner ($14 million) in grants to the institute in the period 1997–2018, the document said. The amount is in line with grants to hundreds of other institutions.

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Gifts 

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The files also reveal how Epstein tried to ingratiate himself to Rød-Larsen and his family, including with a Bermuda trip in 2011 and presents for his children, Edward and Emma.

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In 2016, there is a reference to a gift for Edward sent to his school that assistants discuss by email: “…seems like an exhorbetant amount of money…” In 2018, Epstein arranged for both twins to get Apple watches.

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Epstein also set up the son for work experience at London auction house Christie’s and gave him advice on personal grooming “to look like a preppy school boy.” In the spring of 2019, the son messaged Epstein about art and getting into NYU. 

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“Neither the children, nor Ms. Juul, had any knowledge of the will written by Epstein. Any interactions they had with him as minors — including attending events — occurred solely because their parents brought them along,” Juul’s attorney, Thomas Skjelbred, said in an emailed statement.

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The files show Epstein had a particular interest in the Nobel Peace Prize, and Rød-Larsen connected Epstein to the right people to discuss it. 

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In a separate email exchange in September 2012, Epstein tells former Harvard University president Larry Summers about Jagland. He says: “head of the nobel peace prize staying with me , if you have any interest.” He also describes him as “not bright , but unique perspective.” 

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The former premier served as head of the Nobel Committee from 2009 to 2015 and as secretary general of the Council of Europe, a human-rights organization, between 2009 and 2019.

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In iMessage texts from 2018, Rød-Larsen and Epstein discuss Bannon and connect a “Steve” with Asle Tøje, then member and current vice chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Epstein writes: “Steve and Nobel guy in touch a lot.”