Nobel Committee Member Asle Toje Faces Calls to Resign Over Past Contacts

Asle Toje, the Deputy Chair of the Nobel Committee, is under increasing pressure to resign following accusations of misleading statements regarding his past interactions with controversial figures, including Holocaust denier David Irving and former Trump advisor Steve Bannon. The calls for his resignation are led by Arild Hermstad, leader of the Green Party (MDG) in Norway.

Accusations of Misleading Statements

The controversy stems from claims made by author and union representative Jonas Bals, who alleges that Toje has been inconsistent in his accounts of his contact with Irving and Bannon. Bals initially raised concerns in the literary journal Vagant, accusing Toje of downplaying the extent of his interactions.

Contact with David Irving

Toje has acknowledged contacting Irving in 2004, when he was a doctoral student at Cambridge University, to request an interview. Still, he maintains that this was a youthful misjudgment and does not indicate support for Irving’s views. Toje has described Irving as a “Nazi and charlatan,” stating that the interview never took place. Inyheter.no reports that Toje characterizes the attempt to contact Irving as a “klumsete” (clumsy) act of youthful overconfidence.

Contact with Steve Bannon

Bals also points to Toje’s contact with Steve Bannon, referencing mentions in the Epstein files. Toje has stated that his contact with Bannon was limited to a single meeting and some quotes used in articles. He denies arranging meetings between Bannon and Norwegian politicians. Aftenposten notes that Toje has altered his explanation of the contact over time, initially denying any contact beyond a single meeting before admitting to some email correspondence.

Calls for Resignation

Arild Hermstad, leader of MDG, has publicly called for Toje to step down from the Nobel Committee, citing a pattern of denial and subsequent admission of information. Hermstad expressed concern that this behavior mirrors that of individuals connected to Jeffrey Epstein, who have demonstrated a “poor memory” when questioned about their associations. Aftenposten reports Hermstad stating that the situation creates uncertainty about whether Toje has something to hide.

Nobel Committee Rules

The Nobel Committee itself does not have the power to remove a member. According to Aftenposten, only committee members can voluntarily resign from their positions.

Toje’s Response

Toje has rejected accusations of dishonesty, claiming that Jonas Bals is attempting to “cancel” him. He argues that Bals is engaging in guilt by association and misinterpreting his past statements. Toje defends his academic approach, asserting that it is possible to engage with problematic thinkers without endorsing their ideologies.