Correspondence Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent 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 release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.