Borge Brende steps down as World Economic Forum head amid Epstein controversy

Former World Economic Forum President Borge Brende Resigns Amid Revelations of Ties to Jeffrey Epstein

Borge Brende, the president and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF), has announced his resignation following revelations about his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister, had previously stated that he was unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities.

According to reports, Brende had three business dinners with Epstein, as well as exchanged emails and text messages with him. The WEF launched an independent investigation into Brende’s relationship with Epstein after the US Department of Justice released files revealing their connections.

Brende stated that he would have declined any contact with Epstein if he had known about his past. He also expressed regret for not conducting a more thorough investigation into Epstein’s background.

The WEF has announced that Alois Zwingli will serve as interim president and CEO, while the board of trustees will oversee the leadership transition. The organization is also planning to identify a permanent replacement.

Brende’s resignation comes after several prominent figures have faced scrutiny or taken action following revelations about their ties to Epstein. In Norway, former prime minister Thorbjorn Jagland has been charged with “aggravated corruption” amid an investigation into his connections to Epstein. Crown Princess Mette-Marit has also come under heavy scrutiny following her close friendship with Epstein.

The WEF’s co-chairs, Andre Hoffmann and Larry Fink, have stated that the independent review of Brende’s ties to Epstein concluded there were no additional concerns beyond what had been previously disclosed.

Source: Al Jazeera