Oslo: The Norwegian parliament has reached an agreement to establish a commission to investigate the connections between Norwegian authorities and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This decision marks a significant step in understanding the extent of Epstein's influence and interactions within Norway.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Parliament's Control and Constitutional Affairs Committee unanimously recommended the creation of an independent commission of inquiry into the Epstein case. The NRK broadcaster reported that the mandate for this commission would cover the relationships between Norwegian authorities and external organizations, foundations, and networks that have ties to Norway.

Committee chairman Per-Willy Amundsen stated that a draft law is being considered to provide the commission with unrestricted access to all pertinent information, overriding any statutory or contractual confidentiality obligations. Amundsen emphasized that the commission would employ methods and powers similar to those used in police investigations.

The move comes in the wake of the US Justice Department's release of more than 3 million pages of documents, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images connected to the Epstein Files Transparency Act. This act, which was enacted last November, has unveiled interactions between Epstein and several high-ranking Norwegian officials, including former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.