Correspondence Reveal the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".
These messages were published on this week together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.