Emails Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish 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 appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.