FE commission report delayed until at least 2028

The commission investigating the dismissal of senior staff at Denmark’s Defence Intelligence Service (FE) and the handling of criminal cases against its former head, Lars Findsen, and ex-defence minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen will not conclude until at least 2028, according to a letter from the commission’s chair, Jens Hartig Danielsen, to Justice Minister Nicolai Wammen.

The letter, published on the Folketing’s website and first reported by Jyllands-Posten, cites “various reasons” for the delay, including the classified nature of key material and information under review.

The commission now expects to deliver its report by 30 June 2028, though it may do so earlier if possible. Its mandate includes examining whether improper considerations influenced the criminal cases against Findsen and Hjort Frederiksen, and whether there are grounds to hold anyone accountable.

Findsen was suspended in August 2020 after the Intelligence Oversight Board launched an investigation into potential illegal activities at FE. shortly afterwards, the Defence Ministry announced that eight employees had been sent home. In December 2021, Findsen and three others were arrested by PET on suspicion of leaking highly classified information about Danish-US cooperation on cable surveillance. He was released after 71 days in custody in February 2022.

Prosecutors dropped all charges in November 2023.