Emails Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent helper".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
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 cross-referencing the dates, events, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.