Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".
These messages were released on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, 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 lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the newly released documents indicate 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 before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa 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 meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.