Borge Brende, the president and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF), stepped down on Thursday after an investigation into his ties to the late serial sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum. My time here, spanning 8-1/2 years, has been profoundly rewarding. I am grateful for the incredible collaboration with my colleagues, partners, and constituents, and I believe now is the right moment for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions,” Brende announced in a statement.
Brende’s statement didn’t mention Epstein, but he quit just a few weeks after the WEF started looking into his ties to the late sex offender.
The investigation started after it was found that Brende had eaten with Epstein at least three times and had also texted and emailed him, even though Epstein had been found guilty of trying to get a child to work as a prostitute years earlier.
“I was completely unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities,” said Brende after news of his relationship with Epstein was made public. “Had I known about his background, I would have declined the initial invitation to join [former Norwegian Deputy Prime Minister Terje] Rod-Larsen and any subsequent dinner invitations or other communications.”
Brende had been the WEF’s CEO and president since October 2017, when he stepped down on Thursday. Brende became president of the WEF just a few days after he left the Norwegian government as foreign minister.
Earlier this month, former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland was charged with aggravated corruption in connection with an investigation into his alleged ties to Epstein.
Elden Law Firm confirmed to CNN on Thursday that Jagland is “charged with aggravated corruption,” adding that he “denies all charges.”
Jagland, 75, is accused of receiving improper benefits, including gifts, travel, and other advantages, during his tenure as a senior official, including when he served as chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and later as secretary-general of the Council of Europe.
Police say the charges stem from information in newly released Justice Department documents detailing interactions and connections between Epstein and prominent global figures.
Investigators from Norway’s economic crimes unit, Økokrim, have searched multiple properties linked to Jagland as part of the probe and plan to question him as the case moves forward. The Council of Europe earlier waived Jagland’s diplomatic immunity to allow the investigation to proceed.
Jagland has denied visiting Epstein’s private island and has said he will cooperate with authorities. Formal charges of aggravated corruption represent a significant escalation in the investigation, which has also drawn scrutiny to other Norwegian diplomats and officials mentioned in the Epstein files.
The charges come “as Norway’s royal family battles scandals on multiple fronts, with charities this week moving to cut or review ties to the crown princess due to her past contact with Epstein, who died in 2019,” CNN noted.
Investigators said they were looking into “whether gifts, travel, and loans were received in connection with his position.”
Last week, Jagland’s lawyer told news outlets that the searches carried out at the former prime minister’s “home and leisure properties” are “a normal part of an investigation of this type.”
The newly released Epstein files revealed significant communication between Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Epstein, which the princess now regrets, years after he pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from a minor.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Saturday that the Justice Department has released all documents covered by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, including a list of more than 300 high-profile names appearing in the materials.
In a letter to lawmakers, Bondi said the department complied with the statute’s requirements by making public “all records, documents, communications, and investigative materials” in its possession that relate to nine categories outlined in the law.
Bondi said no records were withheld for reasons of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.
