Emails Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".
These messages were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.