Correspondence Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".
These messages were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump'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 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for the political party informed media: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.