Emails Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Ties
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 disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.