Emails Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading 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 helper".
These exchanges were published on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he said: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
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 died in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.