Messages Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane 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 on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned 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 recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships 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 rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.