Emails Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".
These messages were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his identity by matching the timeline, events, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.