Correspondence Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing helper".
These exchanges were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
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 dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.