Messages Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".
These messages were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged 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: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.