Norwegian former prime minister Thorbjørn Jagland has been hospitalised, according to reports published on 24 February, with one outlet claiming the 75-year-old may have attempted to take his own life. His lawyer has denied this.
The reports came from Norwegian news site iNyheter, which cited an unnamed 'rock-solid source' to claim Jagland was admitted to hospital during the week of 16 February in serious condition. The hospital treating him has not been identified, and Norwegian authorities have not issued an official statement on his medical status.
His attorney, Anders Brosveet of Elden Advokatfirma, confirmed the hospitalisation but offered a different explanation. Jagland had been admitted 'due to the strain arising in the wake of this case,' Brosveet said in a statement cited by Bloomberg.
The lawyer explicitly denied that his client had attempted to harm himself.
Corruption Charges Linked to Epstein Files
The hospitalisation followed Jagland's formal charging on 12 February 2026 with aggravated corruption by Norway's economic crimes unit, Okokrim. The charges stem from documents released by the US Department of Justice as part of broader Epstein file disclosures, which indicated years of contact between Jagland and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
According to NRK, Norway's public broadcaster, Epstein is said to have provided Jagland with travel and luxury accommodation while the former official held senior public roles. Investigators are examining whether gifts, loans, or other benefits were received in connection with those positions.
Epstein referred to Jagland in documents as 'the Nobel big shot.' The former prime minister served as chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee from 2009 to 2015, a period during which the committee awarded the Peace Prize to Barack Obama in 2009 and to the European Union in 2012. He also served as Secretary General of the Council of Europe from 2009 to 2019.
Jagland has denied wrongdoing. He described his association with Epstein as 'unwise' and a matter of 'poor judgement,' and has said he will cooperate fully with investigators. He has also stated that he never visited Epstein's private island.
The Council of Europe revoked Jagland's diplomatic immunity on 11 February 2026, clearing the path for Norwegian authorities to act. Police raids followed on his properties in Oslo and Risør, with officers removing boxes of materials from his Oslo residence.
Pal Lonseth, chief of Okokrim, said investigators considered there to be 'reasonable grounds for investigation, given that he held the positions of chair of the Nobel Committee and Secretary General of the Council of Europe during the period covered by the released documents.' Among the areas under scrutiny, he added, are 'gifts, travel, and loans received in connection with his position.'
Media Blackout Broken by iNyheter
🚨 BREAKING REPORT 🚨
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) February 24, 2026
“Mr. Human Rights” Ex-Norwegian PM Jagland Hospitalized From Attempted Suicide After Being Charged Over Epstein Ties@HarrisonHSmith pic.twitter.com/BdJQsQXwJZ
According to iNyheter, representatives of the Norwegian Editors' Association reached an informal understanding with Brosveet on 17 February that the incident would not be reported. Several editors reportedly agreed to hold the story on the grounds of sensitivity.
iNyheter published regardless, arguing that Jagland's standing as a public figure and the gravity of the criminal charges against him justified disclosure.
Snopes, which investigated the suicide attempt claim, noted that iNyheter, described by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism as a site 'known for right-wing critique of immigrant policy and mainstream media,' relied on a single unnamed source. Brosveet's denial remains the only on-the-record statement from anyone with direct knowledge of Jagland's medical situation, according to Snopes.
Norwegian police have said no conclusions have been reached in the corruption case and have not indicated when, or whether, further charges might follow.
Jagland served as Norway's prime minister from 1996 to 1997 and has been one of the country's most prominent figures in European and international institutions for decades. Epstein died in a New York detention facility in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide by the medical examiner, though it has been disputed.
