World Economic Forum Head Børge Brende Steps Down Following Pressure Over Epstein Links

GENEVA — World Economic Forum caput Børge Brende said Thursday that he is stepping down aft facing unit complete his contacts pinch nan precocious activity offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Brende, a erstwhile Norwegian overseas minister, said successful a connection that he had decided “after observant consideration” to measurement down arsenic president and main executive of nan forum, known for its yearly January acme successful nan Swiss Alpine edifice of Davos.

“I americium grateful for nan unthinkable collaboration pinch my colleagues, partners, and constituents, and I judge now is nan correct infinitesimal for nan Forum to proceed its important activity without distractions,” Brende said successful a connection released by nan WEF.

Brende was Norway’s overseas curate from 2013-2017 and is 1 of respective salient Norwegians who person faced scrutiny pursuing nan latest merchandise of Epstein files.

He didn’t mention straight to that contention successful Thursday’s statement, but nan WEF announced earlier this period that it was opening an soul reappraisal into Brende to find his narration pinch Epstein aft files indicated nan 2 had dined together respective times and exchanged messages.

Brende told Norwegian broadcaster NRK astatine nan clip that he was cooperating pinch nan investigation, that he only met Epstein successful business settings and that he had been unaware of Epstein’s criminal background.

WEF co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink said successful a connection that “the independent reappraisal conducted by extracurricular counsel has concluded. The findings stated that location were nary further concerns beyond what has been antecedently disclosed.”

They said that Alois Zwinggi will service arsenic nan forum’s interim president and CEO.