Correspondence Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's key advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down 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 footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.