Emails Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. May soonā¦"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.