Emails Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".
These messages were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others get the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for the political party informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.