Correspondence Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were released on this week alongside more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'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 first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the people here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.