Emails Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".
These messages were released on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a aide.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "They are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.