Messages Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can make the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".
These messages were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For example, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump'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 administration in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.