Torbjorn Jagland wrote to the disgraced financier about "extraordinary girls," newly released files show

Norway has launched an investigation into former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland on suspicion of aggravated corruption stemming from his contacts with disgraced US financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Jagland served as Norway's prime minister from 1996 to 1997. He was secretary general of the Council of Europe from 2009 to 2019 and chaired the Norwegian Nobel Committee from 2009 to 2015.

In a statement on Thursday, Norway's anti-corruption agency Okokrim said it had asked the Foreign Ministry to lift the immunity granted to Jagland as a former diplomat. Okokrim chief Pal Lonseth said the probe would focus on whether Jagland received gifts or favors in connection with his positions.

The veteran politician is mentioned multiple times in a trove of files from the Epstein Estate released last week by US authorities.

In an email to Epstein from May 2012, Jagland wrote, "I have been in Tirana (Albania) extraordinary girls." In another email from January 2013, the former prime minister wrote about plans to visit Epstein's private island in the Caribbean with his wife and sons, adding, "I can't keep it going only with young women as you know."

On Monday, Jagland told the newspaper VG that the emails contained "embarrassing jargon" that could be misconstrued, and said he had never visited Epstein's properties without his wife present. He denied ever staying on Epstein's island.

Jagland's lawyer, Anders Brosveet, said he would submit all relevant information to investigators. "Based on what we have found so far, we are confident of the outcome," Brosveet told Reuters.