Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit expressed regret over her ties to the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a Friday interview, stating, "I was manipulated and deceived." She emphasized that she wishes she had never met him and clarified that she has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing, maintaining that she did not personally witness any illegal behavior during her dealings with Epstein.
Her comments come after files released by the US Justice Department revealed that Mette-Marit corresponded with Epstein between 2011 and 2014 and stayed at his residence in Palm Beach, Florida, for four days in 2014. Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor, serving 13 months in jail, and died in prison in 2018 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, ruled a suicide. The release of these documents, part of the so-called "Epstein files," has cast doubt on her previous claim of being unaware of his 2008 conviction.
In Norway, several prominent figures have been linked to Epstein, with the country's parliament requesting an inquiry into the foreign ministry's connections to the late offender and police investigating former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland for aggravated corruption related to his dealings with Epstein. While Mette-Marit apologized for her ties in 2019, the newly disclosed evidence suggests potential inconsistencies in her account, including a 2011 email where she told Epstein she had googled him and that it "didn't look too good," though she now says she does not remember why she wrote it.
During the interview, Mette-Marit also addressed the legal case against her 29-year-old son, Marius Borg Hoiby, stating, "I am the mother of a young man who has been in a very difficult situation." Hoiby is facing charges including four counts of rape, with prosecutors alleging some victims were unconscious at the time, as well as accusations of domestic abuse, reckless driving, and drug-related offenses.
The crown princess described Epstein as having exploited a mutual friend and her own gullibility, noting that she likes to believe the best about people but chose to end contact with him. This interview highlights ongoing scrutiny of elite connections to Epstein and personal challenges within the Norwegian royal family, reflecting broader societal concerns over accountability and transparency.
Source: www.dw.com