Messages Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were released on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to establish his involvement by matching the dates, events, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.
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 presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "They are trying to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president 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.