Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".
These messages were released on this week alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
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 served as Trump's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a aide.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so people see the dedication 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 no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited recently after the release of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.