Emails Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".
These messages were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.