Messages Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters 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 layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was finally toppled 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 Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.