Emails Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
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 speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent helper".
These messages were published on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the lead-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 admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for the political party informed media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.