Messages Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people see the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.