Messages Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent helper".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming 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 disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable 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."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK told media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.