Emails Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing helper".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the run 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 film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane 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 responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.