Lina Aas-Eng describes media storm after Moxnes sunglasses theft

The wife of former Red Party leader Bjørnar Moxnes has spoken publicly about the intense media scrutiny she faced following her husband’s 2023 shoplifting incident, revealing in a VG podcast how she became a target despite having no involvement in the case.

Lina Aas-Eng, 40, told VG’s Mediebobler podcast that the release of surveillance footage showing Moxnes taking a pair of Hugo Boss sunglasses from Oslo Airport’s duty-free shop in July 2023 triggered a wave of public attention that engulfed her as well. “It was an incredibly tough situation,” she said. “I had nothing to do with the case, but suddenly I was pulled into it as if I were just as responsible.”

The footage, first published by VG, showed Moxnes placing the 1,199 kroner sunglasses in his bag before leaving without paying. He later resigned as party leader on 24 July 2023 and accepted a 3,000 kroner fine. Aas-Eng, who works in advertising, described being inundated with messages and online speculation, including “extreme amounts of rumours, stories, and conjecture” about her role. “It puts your body in a constant state of stress,” she said. “You need to feel in control, but you’re completely powerless.”

Moxnes, now 44, later admitted to five additional shoplifting incidents from an Oslo grocery store in the same period, accepting a 15,000 kroner fine in May 2024 and citing personal struggles with mental health. He returned to parliament as a Red Party representative in January 2024.

Aas-Eng and Moxnes, who married in autumn 2024 after their relationship became public in 2022, declined further comment when contacted by Dagbladet.