Correspondence Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".
These messages were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's closest advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted 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 the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people see the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.