Correspondence Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".
These messages were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" 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 show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve 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 Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.