Emails Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".
These messages were published on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release 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 matching the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the lead-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 documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting 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.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.