Correspondence Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing helper".
These exchanges were published on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by matching the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his address 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 seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "They are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.