Correspondence Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary 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 publish the series, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for the political party informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.