Messages Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".
These messages were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated 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, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time 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 booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he added: "They are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
May was eventually removed in May 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.