Correspondence Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".
These messages were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "They are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering 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 justice department should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.