Emails Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a aide.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked 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 assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "They are trying to move on. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.