Messages Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".
These messages were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering 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 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are attempting to move on. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.