Emails Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing helper".
These exchanges were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and places mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for the political party told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.