Oslo police have requested four weeks of pre-trial detention to prevent the risk of reoffending, with a court decision expected Monday afternoon.
Høiby’s arrest coincides with heightened scrutiny of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, whose name appeared nearly 1,000 times in newly unsealed Jeffrey Epstein files released by the US Justice Department. The emails suggest she maintained close contact with Epstein between 2011 and 2014, years after he pleaded guilty to sex offenses involving minors.
In a statement, Mette-Marit admitted she had shown “poor judgment” and expressed “deep regret” for having any contact with Epstein, emphasizing her sympathy for his victims. The palace confirmed she ended written contact in 2014, believing Epstein was attempting to leverage their relationship.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre commented that those mentioned in the files are expected to clarify the truth, while stressing that inclusion in the files does not imply wrongdoing.
The revelations come at a sensitive moment for the Norwegian royal family, as Høiby’s trial is about to begin and public attention remains focused on both the Crown Princess’s past associations and her son’s pending legal proceedings.
