Oslo: Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store expressed criticism towards Crown Princess Mette-Marit and former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland for their interactions with the late Jeffrey Epstein, labeling their actions as "poor judgment." In a statement to broadcaster NRK, Store emphasized his agreement with the Crown Princess's own admission of poor judgment, and extended the same critique to Jagland.

According to Anadolu Agency, Jagland responded to Store's remarks by acknowledging his poor judgment in communications with Epstein through a letter to the newspaper Aftenposten. Jagland stated that he would have avoided any contact with Epstein had he been aware of the latter's criminal activities at the time. The revelations emerged after the US Justice Department released new documents related to Epstein on Friday.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit issued a statement on Saturday expressing regret for not scrutinizing Epstein's background more thoroughly. She admitted her responsibility in the matter and described her association with Epstein as embarrassing. The newly disclosed documents revealed that Mette-Marit maintained contact with Epstein over several years, including borrowing his house in 2013.

The Crown Princess also conveyed her deep sympathy and solidarity with Epstein's victims, acknowledging the gravity of the abuse they suffered. The unsealed documents from a US federal court exposed numerous influential figures linked to Epstein, including political leaders and corporate elites, as part of a vast trove of records released by the US Justice Department.

US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche highlighted that the Epstein Files Transparency Act facilitated the release of over 3 million pages of documents, including videos and images, although redactions were made to protect victims. The public records notably revealed the names of 43 victims, with more than 20 identified as minors at the time of the offenses.