Correspondence Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".
These exchanges were released on this week alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the lead-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 reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for the political party informed media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.