Messages Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited 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 evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and places mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.