Correspondence Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". 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 inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers 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 admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations 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 says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.