Danish politician Mona Juul has issued a furious public rebuke after being repeatedly and incorrectly identified as a Norwegian diplomat named in the Jeffrey Epstein files. The chairwoman of Denmark's Conservative People's Party found her likeness used in numerous media reports concerning the resignation of Norwegian ambassador Mona Juul, who admitted a "failure of judgement" regarding her relationship with the convicted sex offender.
Social Media Outburst Over Misuse of Image
The Danish Juul took to social media to express her outrage at the repeated misidentification. "This is a deeply serious matter that no one in this world wants to be mentioned in connection with," she wrote. "So they can damn well check twice before publishing the wrong pictures out of consideration for those of us who have nothing to do with the case." She responded to further erroneous reports as recently as Monday, highlighting the ongoing nature of the problem.
Norwegian Diplomat's Resignation and Epstein Links
The confusion stems from the case of Norwegian ambassador Mona Juul, aged 66, who recently resigned from her position as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq. This followed the launch of an internal inquiry into her links to Jeffrey Epstein. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stated that Juul's contact with the convicted sex offender represented a "serious failure of judgment" that made it difficult to maintain the trust required for her diplomatic role.
According to the Epstein files, the Norwegian Juul and her husband, former cabinet minister Terje Roed-Larsen, made plans in 2011 to visit Epstein's private island with their children. In a will signed just two days before his death in a jail cell in 2019, Epstein indicated he was leaving $5 million to each of the couple's two children. It is important to note that inclusion in the files does not in itself imply any wrongdoing.
Legal Representation and Diplomatic Career
Thomas Skjelbred, the lawyer representing the Norwegian Mona Juul, confirmed her voluntary resignation, stating the current situation made it impossible for her to perform her duties effectively. "Mona Juul will continue to cooperate fully with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help ensure that all relevant facts in the matter come to light," Skjelbred said in an official statement.
The Norwegian diplomat had a distinguished career, previously serving as Norway's ambassador to Israel, Britain, and at the United Nations. She and her husband rose to prominence as part of the small group of diplomats who facilitated the historic 1993-1995 Oslo Accords, which were seen at the time as a major breakthrough in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Clear Distinction Between Two Public Figures
The Danish Mona Juul is a member of the Danish Folketing (parliament) and Chairwoman of the Conservative Party, with no connection to the Epstein case. The repeated use of her photograph in reports about the Norwegian diplomat's resignation has caused significant distress and prompted her very public complaint. This incident underscores the critical need for journalistic diligence in verifying the identities of individuals, especially when reporting on sensitive and high-profile legal matters involving serious allegations.
