{"id":30075,"date":"2026-02-27T18:28:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T18:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/?p=30075"},"modified":"2026-02-27T18:28:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T18:28:36","slug":"world-economic-forum-president-resigns-amid-probe-over-epstein-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/?p=30075","title":{"rendered":"World Economic Forum President Resigns Amid Probe Over Epstein Ties"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"container fullwidth-entry-title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"container-wrapper fullwidth-entry-title\">\n<header class=\"entry-header-outer\">\n<div class=\"entry-header\">\n<div class=\"single-post-meta post-meta clearfix\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" style=\"font-size: 1rem;\" src=\"https:\/\/conservativebrief.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Epstein-1.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/conservativebrief.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Epstein-1.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/conservativebrief.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Epstein-1-300x161.jpg 300w, https:\/\/conservativebrief.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Epstein-1-1024x551.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/conservativebrief.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Epstein-1-768x413.jpg 768w, https:\/\/conservativebrief.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Epstein-1-1536x827.jpg 1536w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"861\" data-main-img=\"1\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container fullwidth-featured-area-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"featured-area\">\n<div class=\"featured-area-inner\">\n<figure class=\"single-featured-image\"><figcaption class=\"single-caption-text\">\u00a0Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"content\" class=\"site-content container\">\n<div id=\"main-content-row\" class=\"tie-row main-content-row\">\n<div class=\"main-content tie-col-md-8 tie-col-xs-12\" role=\"main\">\n<article id=\"the-post\" class=\"container-wrapper post-content tie-standard\">\n<div class=\"entry-content entry clearfix\">\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-4\">\n<hr \/>\n<p>This article may contain commentary<br \/>\nwhich reflects the author&#8217;s opinion.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ns-buttons ns-inline large ns-no-print\">\n<div class=\"ns-buttons-wrapper ns-align-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-1\">\n<div id=\"00000001-bbf53759-2a8f-4fc5-9cac-e0b64c4a2240\" class=\"_ap_apex_ad\" data-section=\"00000001-bbf53759-2a8f-4fc5-9cac-e0b64c4a2240\" data-orig-id=\"e1c09a52-67a1-44a3-a58e-fc2bf67380c6\" data-render-time=\"1772216888897\">\n<div id=\"6957b6b9-bbe2-463c-a3bf-e28d0e449c20\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cAfter 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,\u201d Brende announced in a\u00a0statement.<\/p>\n<p>Brende\u2019s statement didn\u2019t mention Epstein, but he quit just a few weeks after the WEF started looking into his\u00a0ties to the late sex offender.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-2\">Advertisement<\/div>\n<p>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\u00a0found guilty\u00a0of trying to get a child to work as a prostitute years earlier.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was completely unaware of Epstein\u2019s past and criminal activities,\u201d said Brende after news of his relationship with Epstein was made public. \u201cHad 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Brende had been the WEF\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-7\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" class=\"\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2026985057911726330&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fconservativebrief.com%2Fpresident-resigns-epstein-99204%2F&amp;sessionId=8b5ca1800e4b5b1c6b053667534537114f276395&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"2026985057911726330\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month, former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbj\u00f8rn Jagland was charged with aggravated corruption in connection with an investigation into his alleged ties to Epstein.<\/p>\n<p>Elden Law Firm\u00a0confirmed to CNN\u00a0on Thursday that Jagland is \u201ccharged with aggravated corruption,\u201d adding that he \u201cdenies all charges.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-10\">Advertisement<\/p>\n<div id=\"as6124\" data-title=\"You Might Also Like\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Police say the charges stem from information in newly released Justice Department documents detailing interactions and connections between Epstein and prominent global figures.<\/p>\n<p>Investigators from Norway\u2019s economic crimes unit, \u00d8kokrim, 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\u2019s diplomatic immunity to allow the investigation to proceed.<\/p>\n<p>Jagland has denied visiting Epstein\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>The charges come \u201cas Norway\u2019s 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,\u201d CNN noted.<\/p>\n<p>Investigators said they were looking into \u201cwhether gifts, travel, and loans were received in connection with his position.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-12\">\n<div data-delay=\"4000\" data-block=\"12\">\n<div class=\"ai-lazy\" data-code=\"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\" data-class=\"Y29kZS1ibG9jaw==\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Last week, Jagland\u2019s lawyer told news outlets that the searches carried out at the former prime minister\u2019s \u201chome and leisure properties\u201d are \u201ca normal part of an investigation of this type.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The newly released Epstein files revealed significant communication between Norway\u2019s Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Epstein, which the princess now regrets, years after he pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from a minor.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>In a letter to lawmakers, Bondi said the department complied with the statute\u2019s requirements by making public \u201call records, documents, communications, and investigative materials\u201d in its possession that relate to nine categories outlined in the law.<\/p>\n<p>Bondi said\u00a0no records were withheld\u00a0for reasons of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0Getty Images This article may contain commentary which reflects the author&#8217;s opinion. Borge Brende, the president and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF), stepped down on Thursday after an &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30076,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30075","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30075"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30075\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30077,"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30075\/revisions\/30077"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30076"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}