Correspondence Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".
These messages were published on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and 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 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 archives.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.