Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious 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 email: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing helper".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not 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 files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.