Messages Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".
These messages were published on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, 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 seeming to act like a aide.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.