Messages Reveal the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing helper".
These exchanges were published on this week together with over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "They are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others get the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never 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 decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.