Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.