Emails Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told media: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.