The Norwegian police’s security service PST held a press conference on Tuesday.
Mette-Marit’s Epstein connections have been a big topic of conversation in Norway. PDO
The Norwegian police’s security service PST begins its own investigation into corruption. The investigation is being started after the recent news about Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Norwegian politicians’ connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
This is reported by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, among others NRK.
– We want to do our own investigation to see if there is information that concerns PST’s area of responsibility, PST director Beate Gangås said at a press conference held on Tuesday.
According to Gangås, this could apply, for example, to the illegal sharing of information or the processing of classified information in violation of the provisions of the Security Act.
According to Gangås, the investigation has not started yet.
According to NRK, PST was asked whether Mette-Marit’s connection with Epstein constituted a security threat to the Norwegian court.
– I have no idea about it other than that they are aware of safety. They know well what their role is, and they also know well what the bodyguards’ role is, says Gangås.
Head of department by Hanne Finanger according to the PST, there is no legal basis to conduct background checks on all private individuals that the royal family or other officials may encounter on their travels.
– The primary task of bodyguards is physical personal protection. Bodyguards are not personal or professional advisers to government officials, Finanger said.
According to Finanger, PST is responsible for safety on the trips they participate in.
– Nevertheless, there is always an official and his staff who decide where the trip goes, when, with what kind of travel party and who to meet. The PST’s role in this process is to convey the threat picture and give recommendations on security measures.
Gangås also states that PST may not share information citing the duty of confidentiality.
– We cannot talk about individual persons or concrete protection measures. Of course, we cannot comment on ongoing criminal cases. What we want to inform you about is what the bodyguard job really is, said Gangås.
Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit became the center of controversy when she was mentioned more than a thousand times in the newly released Epstein documents.
The documents revealed, among other things, that Mette-Marit has stayed with Epstein in Palm Beach, Florida, where she headed straight from a family vacation. Correspondingly, Epstein has also visited Oslo to meet Mette-Marit.
