Correspondence Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing helper".
These exchanges were released on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by matching the timeline, events, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for Reform UK told 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 decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning 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.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.