Former intelligence chief Lars Findsen revealed in a newly declassified court transcript that Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen refused to heed advice from former Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen regarding Denmark’s handling of a major intelligence scandal. Findsen had orchestrated a plan involving prominent political figures to convince Frederiksen to find an alternative approach to the crisis surrounding Denmark’s secret cable intelligence cooperation with the USA, but the effort failed.
Secret Court Documents Reveal Political Maneuvering
A previously classified court transcript from February 2022 has exposed the behind-the-scenes efforts of Lars Findsen to influence the government’s response to one of Denmark’s biggest intelligence scandals. The document, obtained by DR News and several other media outlets including Politiken, Berlingske, and Frihedsbrevet after years of legal battles, sheds light on what happened after Findsen was dismissed from his position as head of Denmark’s Defense Intelligence Service.
In summer 2020, Findsen and several other prominent employees in the Danish intelligence system were suspended following suspicions of illegal wiretapping through a secret cable cooperation agreement with the United States. Findsen considered this response an overreaction and out of proportion to the situation.
Assembling a Team of Political Heavy Hitters
According to the court transcript, Findsen quickly assembled a team of former prominent politicians and high-ranking officials. His goal was straightforward: Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen needed to be talked into reason. The first person Findsen contacted was Karsten Dybvad, former department head in the Prime Minister’s Office from 2005 to 2010 and former CEO of the Confederation of Danish Industry.
Findsen explained in court that the team wanted to “find a landing strip” for the government and “avoid tumult.” Subsequently, they reached out to former Justice Ministry department head Michael Lunn and two former prime ministers: Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Poul Nyrup Rasmussen.
Why Poul Nyrup Was Chosen
The group assessed that Poul Nyrup Rasmussen was best suited to reach out to Mette Frederiksen. However, the attempt failed. Despite Nyrup’s intervention, Frederiksen did not agree to find an alternative approach to handling the crisis.
Frederiksen’s Response Today
Responding to these revelations, the prime minister declined to engage with Findsen’s version of events. In a written statement to DR, Frederiksen stated that she has no desire to enter into a public dispute with Lars Findsen. The prime minister’s office has consistently maintained this position regarding the former intelligence chief’s claims.
Meanwhile, the court transcript provides rare insight into the political maneuvering that occurred after the scandal broke. For years, the public had no knowledge of what Findsen told the court during closed hearings following his arrest in December 2021.
Media Contacts and Damage Control
Beyond political channels, Findsen also used other relationships to try to dampen media coverage. According to the court transcript, he reached out to Berlingske journalist Simon Andersen, among others. Andersen later confirmed to Berlingske that the two know each other well and have maintained a professional relationship for 30 years.
The court document also reveals Findsen’s perception that Barbara Bertelsen, then department head in the Justice Ministry, wanted him removed from his position. The transcript states that Bertelsen “had seen herself become angry at the accused and wanted him gone.”
Bertelsen, now department head in the Prime Minister’s Office, has referred to a previous statement she gave to Weekendavisen and declined further comment.
The Original Cable Cooperation Agreement
The scandal centers on a top-secret agreement originally signed on August 24 by then-Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. This agreement granted the Defense Intelligence Service access to tap and process intelligence from undersea cables at its Copenhagen facility. The partnership remained classified for years, though it was first exposed by the newspaper Information in 2014 without official confirmation.
For Findsen, the government’s handling of this sensitive matter threatened to destroy Denmark’s crucial intelligence cooperation with the United States. This concern drove him to activate his network of political contacts in an attempt to change course.
Criminal Charges and Their Collapse
Following his suspension, Findsen was arrested in December 2021. He remained in detention until February 17, 2022. Prosecutors charged him with six counts of leaking state secrets and violating confidentiality obligations while suspended from his position as FE chief.
However, the criminal case against Findsen eventually collapsed. The prosecution and intelligence services demanded complete secrecy for the trial, which Denmark’s Supreme Court rejected. Without the ability to conduct a fully closed trial, prosecutors dropped the case in November 2023.
A commission investigating the matter later cleared Findsen and the other suspended officials. Despite this vindication, the damage to careers and reputations had already occurred.
Reactions from Key Figures
DR News contacted several individuals mentioned in the court transcript. Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Poul Nyrup Rasmussen both declined to comment on whether they recognize Findsen’s account of events. Karsten Dybvad did not respond to inquiries. Michael Lunn could not be reached for comment.
As for Findsen himself, he remains tight-lipped about his court testimony. He told reporters that the explanation was given in court behind double-closed doors and he has nothing to add.
Interestingly, the newly released documents show that Findsen won compensation related to PET’s briefing of party leaders on a vulnerability report. The court ruled that sharing certain personal details about Findsen constituted an unnecessary privacy violation, even though the information only reached a small confidential group.
Ongoing Investigations
The intelligence commission investigating both Findsen and former Defense Minister Claus Hjort has abandoned its original deadline of April 1, 2026. Officials cite the voluminous amount of materials requiring review as the reason for the delay.
The case highlights ongoing tensions in Denmark’s intelligence oversight system. It also underscores the delicate balance between maintaining national security partnerships and ensuring proper governmental accountability. The cable cooperation with the United States remains a critical component of Denmark’s intelligence capabilities, processing data essential to national security interests.
Despite years passing since the initial suspensions, the full story continues to emerge. Each newly declassified document adds another layer to understanding how Denmark’s political and intelligence leadership handled one of the country’s most sensitive security matters. The refusal of key figures to comment publicly suggests the matter remains politically sensitive even today.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Mette Frederiksen’s Security Plans Leaked Online
The Danish Dream: Best Lawyer in Denmark for Foreigners
DR: Mette Frederiksen reagerer på Lars Findsens plan fra hidtil hemmeligt dokument
