Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".
These messages were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.