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The president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, Borge Brende resigned today. The forum has launched an independent investigation into his relationship with late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Brende, who became president of the WEF in 2017, announced his decision in a statement following disclosures from the U.S. Justice Department that showed the Norwegian had three business dinners with Epstein and had also communicated with the disgraced financier via email and text message."After 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," said Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister.Brende told Norwegian media he was sorry about how he had handled his dealings with the American and that he did not want the issue to be a distraction for the forum, which organises the annual Davos summit.Brende had previously said he was unaware of Epstein's past and criminal activities before first meeting him in 2018, and that he regretted not having investigated him more thoroughly. Seems many of the individuals stepping down have all said the same thing.