Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".
These messages were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate 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 withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by matching the timeline, events, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for the political party informed media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.