Emails Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".
These messages were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president'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 acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others get the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.