Correspondence Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were released on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part 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.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, 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 trying to move on. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.