Correspondence Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous 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 catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".
These messages were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "They are attempting to move on. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those mentioned 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, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.