Norway's Crown Princess Admits Being 'Manipulated and Deceived' by Epstein

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Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit has publicly expressed regret over her past friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying she was "manipulated and deceived" by him. Recently released U.S. Justice Department files show the two were in frequent contact from 2011 to 2014, years after Epstein's 2008 conviction, with the princess staying at his Palm Beach home in 2013. Mette-Marit said she was "overly trusting" and "tended to think the best of people," but insisted she never saw any illegal activity, though she admitted a "situation" on the last day of her stay in Florida made her uneasy.

Why it matters

The revelations about Mette-Marit's relationship with Epstein have caused a scandal in Norway, with the royal family weathering falling poll numbers and the ongoing trial of the crown princess' eldest son on rape and abuse charges. The case has raised questions about the judgment and decision-making of the future queen of Norway.

The details

The documents appear to undercut a 2019 statement in which Mette-Marit said she had not understood the extent of Epstein's offenses. One 2011 email shows her writing that she had Googled him and agreed "it didn't look too good," adding a smiley face. She told NRK she did not recall why she wrote it, but insisted she never saw illegal activity, though she admitted a "situation" on the last day of her stay in Florida made her uneasy.

• The documents show Mette-Marit and Epstein were in frequent contact from 2011 to 2014.
• Mette-Marit stayed at Epstein's Palm Beach home in 2013.
• Epstein was convicted of sex offenses in 2008.

What’s next

The judge in the trial of Mette-Marit's son Marius Borg Hoiby is expected to announce the sentencing decision on Tuesday.