Emails Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing helper".
These messages were published on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.
'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 during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of 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 appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for the political party informed media: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected 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.