Messages Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were published on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.