Emails Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
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 numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.