Emails Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, next 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 at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the dedication of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.