Emails Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he said: "We plan to release the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for the political party informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice 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 publication of over 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.