Correspondence Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 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 estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by matching the dates, events, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations 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 run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
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 discussing UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited this week after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.