Correspondence Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent assistant".
These messages were published on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply 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 presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "They are attempting to move on. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for the political party told media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.