Correspondence Reveal the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".
These messages were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are trying to move on. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 pages 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 years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.