Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".
These messages were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh 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 request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's key aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.