Ryan Prosser
Published February 14, 2026 9:41pm
Updated February 14, 2026 9:41pm
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Entrepreneur Richard Branson was among the elite roped into Epstein’s web of contacts (Picture: US Department of Justice)
The Epstein files have painted a chilling picture of how the convicted paedophile billionaire built up an unparalleled network of influence by trading access to the rich, famous and powerful.
Among high profile figures caught up his social Ponzi scheme was Thorbjørn Jagland, the head of the Nobel Prize committee from 2009 to 2015.
Jagland, who is mentioned hundreds of times in the latest tranche of documents, was Epstein’s key to reeling in countless members of the global elite, from Richard Branson to Donald Trump.
An investigation prompted by the release of the files has seen the former Norwegian Nobel Committee chief charged with ‘aggravated corruption’.
The crime unit of the Norwegian police force, Økokrim, is probing whether loans or gifts were exchanged through Jagland’s influence.
Authorities have searched Jagland’s homes in Oslo, southern coastal town Risør and Rauland in the west.
None of the documents released so far contain evidence of explicit lobbying for the coveted Nobel Peace Prize.
Lawyers on behalf of Jagland say he denies charges against him and confirmed he had been questioned by police on Thursday.
Epstein met Jagland through the Norwegian diplomat Terje Rød Larsen, one of the main architects of the Oslo Peace Accords between Israel and Palestine.
Epstein used Nobel Prize committee chief Thorbjørn Jagland (pictured) to further his sphere of influence (Picture: AP)
Larsen and his wife are also being investigated due to their connection with Epstein.
Jagland’s presence at Epstein’s homes in Paris and New York was much played up by the convicted financier.
Trump has long aspired to win the world’s premier trophy for peacemakers, publicly blasting the Nobel committee after it selected Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Machado last year rather than himself.
And in another snapshot of Epstein peddling his contacts, the sex offender wrote to MAGA figure Steve Bannon in 2018 suggesting the president’s head would ‘explode’ if he connected Bannon with Jagland.
His email read: ‘Donalds head would explode if he knew you were now buds with the guy who on monday will decide the nobel peace prize.
‘I told him next year it should be you when we settle china.’
In 2013, Epstein wrote to Virgin founder Richard Branson to tell him Jagland would be staying with him, inviting the British entrepreneur to join them, saying the Nobel committee head would be ‘interesting’ to get to know.
Two years later Epstein invited Kathy Ruemmler, White House counsel to Barack Obama, to meet Jagland.
Bill Gates pictured in the Epstein files with an unidentified woman (Picture: House Oversight Committee)
The sex offender also offered the same to Larry Summers, the former president of Harvard university in 2012, according to the emails released by the US justice department
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Epstein told Summers that while Jagland was ‘not bright’ , he was someone with a ‘unique perspective’.
The paedophile also discussed Jagland with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in 2014, explaining the Nobel chief had been re-elected as head of the Council of Europe.
Gates replied that was ‘good’, adding: ‘I guess his peace prize committee job is also up in the air?’
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