Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing helper".
These messages were published on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to 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 expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.